Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias revealed a bold plan to overhaul the country’s military, confirming the closure of 137 military bases by 2025.
Speaking before Parliament’s National Defense Committee on Thursday, Dendias explained the rationale behind the cuts, citing financial constraints and the country’s disproportionately high number of bases—more than the United States itself.
“We simply can’t afford to shut down an additional 250 bases,” Dendias admitted, acknowledging the difficult decisions ahead. While he understood the resistance—especially from MPs and local communities reliant on the bases—he emphasized that maintaining 800 camps, many of which are outdated or underused, no longer makes sense in the modern defense landscape.
The reform plan, aimed at modernizing Greece’s military and adapting it to current needs, will replace outdated installations with “flexible, high-occupancy units.” Dendias pointed to inefficient deployments, like a unit in Evros operating at less than 30% capacity, while others in the Peloponnese are overcrowded at 130%. This restructuring is intended to optimize resources and strengthen the country’s defense capabilities moving forward.
