The first account of his dense four-year term as the Chief of the General Staff of the National Defense (GETHA), just a month and a half after his retirement, is made by the former head of the GETHA Konstantinos Floros, in an interview with the newspaper “Ta Nea”. The former leader of GEETHA talks about the goals he set and managed to achieve, the Greek-Turkish ones, the Evros crisis, his possible involvement in politics.
“I never had in my mind the ultimate goal of becoming a leader, especially of the Armed Forces. However, I have to say that the healthy ambition of every second lieutenant, second lieutenant, flag bearer should be to one day lead his branch and the Armed Forces more broadly. In my case things developed normally, it was a typical career of an officer who reached the top,” he says.
The four goals
According to the former GEETHA chief, starting his term as head of the Armed Forces he set four goals: “Improving the strength of the Armed Forces through equipment reinforcement, improving the fighting ability of the personnel, improving the standard of living of the executives, better and better staffing of the Greek Armed Forces”, he describes himself and managed to achieve them as he stated during his retirement ceremony.
The Ebro crisis
It was a month of continuous pressure across the border. In Kastanies, with vehicles of the Turkish military gendarmerie they tried to tear down the fence. Completely unrevealed. We had hand-to-hand combat. In the Chestnut forest, thousands of people had camped in anti-tents, we could see the buses from Adrianople that were transporting them.” Having himself gone to the field in the difficult weeks of March 2020, he assures: “There were plans and we were ready for all cases”, describes Konstantinos Floros about the crisis at the Evros border that started when he was only 40 days in charge the leadership of GEETHA.
The “hot” summer of 2020
The former head of the Armed Forces also talks about how he assessed the situation after his judgment Evrou and how he prepared for it: “With the end of the border crisis, I was convinced and suggested to the political leadership that something else will come. For two reasons: the first was that what happened in Evros was perceived as a “defeat”, which could not be accepted. Second, from statements and actions it appeared that the situation would continue. Something similar, moreover, had happened before in the past. The Turks considered the field suitable. So we prepared ahead of time, drew up plans and alternatively improved the design and had all the possibilities in mind. So, when it finally happened, we were ready again”, he says, referring to the “hot” summer of 2020, pointing out that – also due to the Turkish actions – for the first time the entire fleet had gone out to the Aegean.
“The Armed Forces were mobilized in their entirety – Army, Navy and Air Force – they remained mobilized for any eventuality for a very long time. This crisis began in July and lasted until the end of November, with ups and downs in its height. However, we were everywhere. In every corner of the Greek land, in sea and air”, he describes.
His assessment of Turkey
“Today, Ankara has – to a certain extent – calmed down in terms of rhetoric, but I don’t think this will last for long. When she judges that her interests are not being served, she will return to a period of claims. He already does. That is, they don’t tell us “we will come suddenly one night”, they tell us “we will come in the afternoon”.
A possible crisis in Kastellorizo
“Yeni Safak” called me crazy and defiant,” says Konstantinos Floros, “because I said that I will not let a single speck of land be lost. I repeat, there is no point judgment. I would not accept a judgment limited to a point where I do not have the advantage. If something happened in Kastellorizo, the “crisis” would be transferred to the entire border: from Ormenio to Kastellorizo. I would not sacrifice the lives of Greeks at a point that “he” desires. All this, of course, under the general instructions, directions and decisions of the Greek government and the Prime Minister”.
The frigate Hydra
In the context of the modernization of the doctrine of the Armed Forces and the subsequent organizational cuts, Mr. Floros did not fail to refer to his “child”, as he calls the Special Warfare Command. “It’s been something that’s been missing for the Special Forces to get unified command by modern standards across all states for decades – which we’ve been lagging behind for guild reasons. This scheme brings about economy of scale in materials, homogenization of training, doctrine, methods, exercises, capabilities. The units are already being evaluated by NATO authorities with excellent marks”. Besides, commandos of the Department of Naval Special Operations of the DEP are today manning the frigate “Hydra” which at the beginning of the week sailed for the Red Sea as part of the “Shields” operation.
From the military to politics?
“I don’t have any kind of political ambition. I don’t want to be a politician. However, I am who I am and if the country believes that it can use me somewhere, I will serve it, as I have served it for 45 years from the position of an officer”, concluded the interview, the former head of GEETHA, however admitted that he has already accepted the first impressions.
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