A storm has erupted in recent days over Defence Minister Nikos Dendias’ deeply unsettling comments about a supposed shift in Europe’s “culture of sacrifice”. Dendias’ stark message on war casualties alarms Europe and Greece.
In remarks that shocked many, Dendias claimed that “Europe today cannot bear to see coffins draped with a flag.”
Speaking at the Athens Security Forum 2025 a few days ago, Dendias argued that Europe must undergo a cultural transformation on security issues, saying:
“The first requirement is a change in the mindset of European societies and a return to a spirit of self-sacrifice. Europeans must have in their consciousness that they may need to sacrifice themselves to defend the rights they enjoy. But this raises a fundamental question: whose children will be sent to war, and for whom? And if such sacrifices are ever demanded, will they truly be made in defence of Greece?
Today, Europe cannot bear to see coffins with a flag on them — not even the European flag. The United States is accustomed to such images. We therefore need an honest and serious discussion within Europe about how far we are prepared to go.”
His remarks come at a time when EU member states are dramatically increasing defence spending, stoking public anxiety about the priorities of political and economic elites.
Adding to the unease are recent comments by Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who warned in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine that the summer just passed “may have been Europe’s last peaceful summer”.
When asked whether Europe still had time to change course, given Russia’s rapid rearmament despite the war in Ukraine, Pistorius replied:
“The question is ultimately speculative. Military experts and intelligence services can estimate roughly when Russia will have rebuilt its forces to the point where it could attack a NATO member in the East. We always said this could happen from 2029 onwards.
But now others believe it may be possible as early as 2028, and some military historians even argue that we have already had our last summer of peace.”
He added that NATO must never give the impression it cannot defend itself:
“It can. The Alliance has significant deterrent capabilities — conventional, and of course nuclear. Our armed forces are prepared for combat, but yes, they must be equipped even better.”
