Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias visits MIT, Harvard and Tufts

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Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias visits MIT, Harvard and Tufts

April 13, 2024

On Friday, 12 April 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendiasvisited elite American Universities in Boston, in the framework of his visit to the USA. In a series of meetings with distinguished scientists and academics from various academic fields, he had the opportunity to exchange opinions on matters which carry global, European and Greek interest, as well as the implementation of the "2030 Agenda" in the Hellenic Armed Forces.

The first stop in his visit was one of the top academic institutions in innovation and technology worldwide, the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). During his visit, Nikos Dendias held extremely useful conversations with Greek academics of the University on topics of Engineering, Technology and Shipbuilding, with a particular focus on the new era, when Greece is designing its own Navy.

Specifically, he held consecutive meetings with Professor Michalis Triantafyllou, Director of the MIT Sea Grant, Professor Themistoklis Sapsis, Director of the "Center for Ocean Engineering" and Captain and Shipbuilding Professor, Andrew J. Gillespy. He also had the opportunity to visit the Battelle Autonomy Lab of the University (MIT Sailing Pavilion) and be briefed by Research Scientist Michael Benjaminon the extraordinary capabilities of unmanned marine vehicles at and below sea level, since armour plating with the specific means and manufacturing them in Greece, is one of the priorities for the Armed Forces in the framework of the "2030 Agenda".

Subsequently, Nikos Dendias visited the Harvard Kennedy School, where he delivered a speech to University students titled: "Geopolitical Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Role of Greece". He discussed said topic with the students, with former Assistant Secretary of State for Eurasian and European Affairs, Dr Karen Donfried(Senior Fellow at the "Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs") as moderator, in the presence of former Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyiannis, who teaches at the University and of Elaine Papoulias(Executive Director, "Center for European Studies").

Following Harvard, Nikos Dendias visited the Fletcher School of International Relations at Tufts University, where he met with members of the Faculty Leadership, academics and with the Head of the Constantine Karamanlis Chair, Fotini Pazartzi.

The Minister of National Defence completed his visit to Boston with a dinner, which he attended in the company of the local Metropolitan Mr Methodios and representatives of the Greek Diaspora.

On Saturday, 13 April 2024, Nikos Dendias will travel to New York, where, at 19:00 (local time) he will participate in the celebration of the Diaspora community for the National Anniversary of the 25^th of March.

On, Sunday 14 April at 10:30 (local time), the Minister of National Defence will attend the celebratory Doxology at Holy Trinity Cathedral, where the Archbishop of America, Mr Elpidophoros, will officiate.

Subsequently, at 13:30 (local time), Mr Dendias, as a guest of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, in the Capacity of honorary Master of Ceremonies, will attend the grand parade celebrating the National Rebirth of 1821, which will take place on 5^thAvenue.