TR 
EN
Greece has taken delivery of HS Kimon (F-601), the first of the Belharra-class frigates it ordered from France. Naturally, the ship’s arrival in Greece generated great excitement. They succeeded in bringing home the vessel, which can also be considered part of the €25 billion project named “Achilles’ Shield.”
At the welcoming ceremony for the new ship, they lined up three vessels from three different eras—Olympias, Kimon, and Averof—in formation along the hull line. As Foreign Minister Dendias stated, within the framework of “the timeless relationship of the Greek people with the sea,” they presented what they see as the manifestation of a centuries-old tradition and a visual expression of a philosophical definition. It also served as effective publicity for the Greek government’s “Agenda 2030” defense transformation project.
Moreover, more ships of the same class are on the way. Sea trials for HS Nearchos (F-602) are ongoing, HS Formion (F-603) is in the outfitting phase, and construction of HS Themistokles (F-600) has begun.
All these messages and processes are positive. The display is impressive. However, a portion of the public continues to harbor internal doubts and concerns.
In an article published in Ekathimerini, it is stated that although the Kimon is an injection of optimism, it was politicians who deprived Greece of its naval power and shipbuilding capacity. The article emphasizes political extravagance, populism, and corruption. This reminder also serves as a warning for the future.
However, the same article also highlights the pride and professional efforts of Greek sailors, despite past political shortcomings and an aging fleet. The fact that the article is titled “Kimon, An Injection of Optimism” likely reflects this dual perspective.
Although Kimon may have provided hope, when one examines other Greek open sources, the current picture does not appear entirely rosy. Why?
The Greek Armed Forces are facing a growing personnel crisis due to a high number of resignations, insufficient recruitment, and declining interest in military careers. This situation appears to be directly affecting the Navy. It is reported that in 2025, the Greek Navy faced 276 resignations. Some sources claim that senior personnel were among those who left. It is also stated that some recruits undergoing training have resigned. Participation in personnel selection processes is reportedly below 50% of the projected candidate numbers.
However, for a more accurate assessment, it is necessary to know the total number of commissioned personnel and the distribution of the reported 276 resignations by rank and position. Some unverified news sources suggest that the number of naval officers ranges between 3,000 and 3,800. If all resignations were officers, this would represent a rate of 7% to 9%. Nevertheless, drawing conclusions solely from open-source figures would be misleading. It would also be necessary to compare data from the past five years.
Such proportional distributions are, of course, difficult to obtain from open sources. However, the sense of public alarm reflected in the media and the government’s attempts to improve personnel rights suggest that there is indeed a serious problem.
These resignations are not entirely new; they occurred in the past as well. However, in recent years, the issue has been discussed more openly. For example, in 2023, another open source highlighted low salaries and unfavorable working conditions. It was reported that assigning personnel to duties unrelated to their core responsibilities, unpaid overtime, job-related stress, housing problems, and the quality of life of military families have led to widespread dissatisfaction among personnel.
From the second half of 2025 to the present, the issue has gained even greater prominence. While establishing a €25 billion defense system, personnel must also be prepared for new systems, new staffing structures, assignments, and organizational frameworks. Recruitment and training of new personnel, orientation of existing staff, salaries, and social benefits all come into play.
The root cause, of course, lies in the traditional style of Greek politics. Inconsistencies in political objectives carry the potential to push the country toward another bankruptcy and risky adventure. For example, if you fixate on the Eastern Mediterranean without genuine interest and attempt to structure your force accordingly, you may exaggerate the necessary components of your operational concept and encounter such problems. Likewise, spending time on regional cooperation initiatives without clearly defining strategic priorities has predictable consequences. Dreams and realities do not always align.
The military personnel problem does not appear to be unique to Greece. For different underlying reasons, similar issues are observed in some other European countries. For instance, in Germany, it was reported that in 2020, 18% of positions allocated to ranks above platoon level in the Army were vacant; by 2024, this figure had risen to approximately 20%, and at platoon level, vacancies had reached 28%. Ultimately, demographic decline, competition with private-sector salaries, and shortages of technical specialists are straining military personnel systems across Europe.
On the other hand, the issue can also be linked to broader social and technological transformations worldwide and in Europe. Modern technologies, digitalization, and the rise of cyber threats are changing the nature of the military profession and transforming the skills and competencies required by military institutions. Different types of training are emerging accordingly. Personnel rights, needs, and family support structures are also evolving. This can be seen in discussions and reports from Military Personnel Management seminars in the United States.
Within this context, does the issue of 276 resignations in the Greek Navy pose a problem in terms of the new skills and competencies required by the era, or is it primarily problematic because traditional posts are being left vacant—or both?
Regardless, it is clear that these resignations hinder the maintenance of organizational continuity. Personnel shortages may not remain confined to operations and staffing but could also negatively affect intelligence, logistics, and training. This situation suggests that the Kimon frigate and similar platforms may face numerous challenges in the coming period. One may assume that foreign military equipment and arms dealers are already waiting in anticipation. Ultimately, the risk of falling into a platform-centered renewal and modernization trap appears quite high.
In conclusion, it is evident that the infrastructure underpinning the enthusiasm sparked by the Kimon is not yet fully prepared. With more open data, a more detailed functional analysis could certainly be conducted. The issue is not to underestimate these new platforms—that would be incorrect. Moreover, the ship’s weapons systems are by no means insignificant. However, even from the current perspective, there remains a long way to go in terms of infrastructure, support elements, trained personnel, materiel, and sustainability. Kimon may be an injection of hope; yet this injection alone does not seem sufficient for the health of the entire immune system.
Sources:
Papachelas, Alexis, “‘Kimon’, an injection of optimism’’, Ekathimerini, 21 January 2026, http://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1292907/kimon-an-injection-of-optimism/ (Last Accessed: 22 February 2026)
“Greek Armed Forces Face Deepening Staffing Crisis’’, Tovima, 28 January 2026, http://www.tovima.com/society/greek-armed-forces-face-deepening-staffing-crisis/ (Last Accessed: 22 February 2026)
Hellenic Navy, http://www.ellinikos-stratos.com/en/naytiko/ (Last Accessed: 22 February 2026)
Zgardanas, George, “Tackling Recruitment and Retention in European Armed Forces: Exploring Military Personnel Resignations in Greece’’, KEDISA, 31 August 2023, http://kedisa.gr/en/tackling-recruitment-and-retention-in-european-armed-forces-exploring-military-personnel-resignations-in-greece/ (Last Accessed: 22 February 2026)
“Alman ordusunda büyük personel sıkıntısı’’, DW, 11 March 2025, http://www.dw.com/tr/alman-ordusunda-b%C3%BCy%C3%BCk-personel-s%C4%B1k%C4%B1nt%C4%B1s%C4%B1/a-71888489 (Last Accessed: 24 February 2026)
Military Personnel Management, Subcommittee Report, United States Congress, 16 May 2019, http://www.congress.gov/116/chrg/CHRG-116hhrg37527/CHRG-116hhrg37527.pdf (Last Accessed: 24 February 2026)
