Political interference can be a significant hindrance to the effectiveness of various operations within a country.

Recently, the head of Greece’s counter-terrorism unit, Michalis Kalogirou, voiced concerns about potential political interference in his department’s active operations. He hinted that the political forces in Greece were interfering with the police’s work, thereby putting the country’s national security at risk.

Background

Greece has been dealing with several issues from illegal immigration to terrorist attacks.

Consequently, the country started employing a multi-faceted approach to deal with these issues, which typically involved placing national security matters beyond political interests and ambitions.

Considering Greece’s history, the issue of political interference is not new. The country’s government, in the past, has been criticized for protecting an extreme-left terrorist group in their fight against right-wing terrorism.

It is important to note that political interference puts the country’s security at risk, given that terrorists could have insider information about the country’s security apparatus.

Michalis Kalogirou’s Concerns

Making a recent appearance in parliament, the head of Greece’s counter-terrorism unit, Mr. Kalogirou, claimed that political interference was affecting the operations of his team, which, in turn, would put the national security of the country at risk.

He stated that the politicians and other personnel from the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection were meddling with his group’s operations, and this was compromising his team’s professionalism, effectiveness, and autonomy.

Mr. Kalogirou’s statement came after his team successfully arrested terrorists involved in the assassination of a Greek businessman in Athens.

The terrorists had escaped justice for years, and their arrest was a breakthrough in Greece’s counter-terrorism operations.

These claims are not new and are not limited to Greece. Many countries have faced similar allegations of political interference in their security operations.

The problem is widespread and puts the country’s security in danger, as those involved in such operations could potentially use their knowledge to aid terrorists.

What can Political Interference cause?

Political interference can cause a host of issues, especially when it comes to national security matters. By meddling in a security operation’s details, political actors can compromise the operation’s integrity.

This could lead to crucial information being leaked to the public or a group of terrorists.

Moreover, political interference can result in security agents being tasked to perform unconventional and non-security related tasks, leading to a waste of resources and time.

It can also mean that security personnel is tasked to act on political interests rather than national security interests, which can lead to an imbalance of priorities within a country.

The need for Professionalism and Autonomy in Counter-Terrorism Operations

For security operations to be effective, it is critical that the personnel involved in them have professionalism and autonomy.

Professionalism ensures that security personnel perform their duties efficiently and competently, fulfilling their specific responsibilities within the team’s operation. Without professionalism, the security personnel’s integrity is compromised, and this could lead to malfunction in the team’s operation.

Autonomy, on the other hand, ensures that the security personnel have the independence to make decisions based on the operational needs. It is essential for counter-terrorism units to function independently, unencumbered by political interference.

Autonomy guarantees the team’s operational effectiveness in achieving their mission without interference or compromise.

The Way Forward

The allegations made by Mr. Kalogirou are serious and must be investigated urgently. The Greek Government should take immediate action to ensure that the country’s security operations are independent and free from political interference.

It should also ensure that security personnel is given autonomy and are free to make decisions based on the operations’ requirements. In doing so, the government is ensuring that the national security of Greece is not compromised.

Furthermore, those politicians and other personnel involved in such meddlesome activities must be held to account and dealt with appropriately.

Policies aimed at safeguarding the country’s security should be established and enforced, with regular audits to ensure their effectiveness. It is through these measures; Greece can ensure that political interference does not derail its efforts to combat terrorism and the further potent effects of eroding national security.

Conclusion

Political interference in a country’s security operations is a potentially significant security breach, one that has long-lasting impacts.

It is high time that governments took a proactive role in protecting the integrity of their security operations by curbing political interference. The Greek government must recognize the seriousness of the concerns expressed by Mr. Kalogirou and take immediate action to address them.

Moreover, clear policies and regulations aimed at addressing and preventing political interference should be put in place to ensure effective operations that safeguard the country’s national security.