Athens’ frustration over the recent incident with the Ukraine-built sea drone found in the Ionian Sea is perfectly justified. It is outrageous that a country that has been supported by Greece, and at significant cost, should not respect its sovereignty, and acts irresponsibly and dangerously.
Ukraine’s stance, however, reveals other important factors worth considering. Numerous experts argue that the conflict with Russia swiftly turned Ukraine into a “mini-Israel” in various ways. Kyiv’s intelligence service is frequently nicknamed “baby Mossad” due to its unconventional operations and frequent extraordinary successes. Furthermore, Ukraine has developed a robust defense industry from the ground up, now exporting equipment and licensing technology worldwide. It has played a crucial role in reshaping modern warfare, prompting militaries globally to study the ongoing conflict closely. The US Pentagon has even acknowledged a “paradigm shift” and recognizes that its existing defense procurement methods are outdated.
Ukraine resembles a mini-Israel in another crucial sense as well. It frequently acts according to its own rules, often disregarding the consequences for its allies or failing to seek their consent. It damages pipelines, sinks vessels in international waters, deploys sea drones in the Ionian Sea, and generally pursues actions it deems advantageous to its national interests without hesitation.
I sincerely hope it won’t require a crisis to make us absorb the lessons from Ukraine, as the world, technology, and warfare are evolving rapidly while we remain mired in trivial political distractions.
Original article: www.ekathimerini.com
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