Optimal Versus Required Defence Spending

The recent rescheduling of the Turkish long-term defence procurement programmes following the economic crisis in the country and the reaction of the Greek authorities to reduce their own by about 25% has become the subject of extensive discussions. The issues involved in such discussions concern the possibility of a causal relationship between the developments in the two countries and the extent to which the two sides entangled, for ages now, in an expensive arms race, can afford a reduction of their defence expenditure. This leads to the next question, which involves the calculation of an “optimal” defence burden providing for maximum security in the face of an outside threat bounded by the constraints imposed by the economy

Optimal Versus Required Defence Spending

The recent rescheduling of the Turkish long-term defence procurement programmes following the economic crisis in the country and the reaction of the Greek authorities to reduce their own by about 25% has become the subject of extensive discussions. The issues involved in such discussions concern the possibility of a causal relationship between the developments in the two countries and the extent to which the two sides entangled, for ages now, in an expensive arms race, can afford a reduction of their defence expenditure. This leads to the next question, which involves the calculation of an “optimal” defence burden providing for maximum security in the face of an outside threat bounded by the constraints imposed by the economy

Optimal Versus Required Defence Expenditure Revisited

The scope of this paper is to supplement our earlier work on the issue concerning the Greek-Cypriot Integrated Defence Doctrine. The term describes a purely defensive dogma the scope of which is to face any form of offensive action against one or both of the allies. It aims, in addition, at defending the strategic and political interests of the two allies in the Aegean Sea and the broader East Mediterranean area in an environment of an arms race against Turkey (Hellenic Ministry of Defence 2000). Given the complexity and multi-disciplinary aspect of this issue we restrict ourselves to focusing on a very interesting aspect of the topic that has not been considered in the literature thus far. What we examine, more specifically, is the relative security contribution of Greece and Cyprus to their alliance and the benefits that each side derives in that respect

Optimal Versus Required Defence Expenditure Revisited

The scope of this paper is to supplement our earlier work on the issue concerning the Greek-Cypriot Integrated Defence Doctrine. The term describes a purely defensive dogma the scope of which is to face any form of offensive action against one or both of the allies. It aims, in addition, at defending the strategic and political interests of the two allies in the Aegean Sea and the broader East Mediterranean area in an environment of an arms race against Turkey (Hellenic Ministry of Defence 2000). Given the complexity and multi-disciplinary aspect of this issue we restrict ourselves to focusing on a very interesting aspect of the topic that has not been considered in the literature thus far. What we examine, more specifically, is the relative security contribution of Greece and Cyprus to their alliance and the benefits that each side derives in that respect

Searching for the Optimal Defence Expenditure: An Answer in the Context of the Greek – Turkish Arms Race.

This paper aims at evaluating the extent to which the defence expenditure of Greece and Cyprus given their arms race against Turkey in the context of the Integrated Defence Doctrine policy constitutes a burden feasible to bear. The evaluation takes place using an Optimal Control solution constrained by a model emphasising on Greek and Cypriot defence expenditure. Various experiments and scenarios have been tested leading to the general conclusion that the defence expenditure in both allied countries seems to be driving their economies beyond capacity limits. This, however, by no means justifies the one sided disarmament policy currently followed by Greece, since the long – term armament programmes pursued by Turkey, the role of which in this arms race has been proven as leading, leave very small room to the Greek and Cypriot sides to reduce their defence expenditures

Searching for the Optimal Defence Expenditure: An Answer in the Context of the Greek – Turkish Arms Race.

This paper aims at evaluating the extent to which the defence expenditure of Greece and Cyprus given their arms race against Turkey in the context of the Integrated Defence Doctrine policy constitutes a burden feasible to bear. The evaluation takes place using an Optimal Control solution constrained by a model emphasising on Greek and Cypriot defence expenditure. Various experiments and scenarios have been tested leading to the general conclusion that the defence expenditure in both allied countries seems to be driving their economies beyond capacity limits. This, however, by no means justifies the one sided disarmament policy currently followed by Greece, since the long – term armament programmes pursued by Turkey, the role of which in this arms race has been proven as leading, leave very small room to the Greek and Cypriot sides to reduce their defence expenditures

Transcatheter implantation of a self-expanding bioprosthetic aortic valve for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis: the effect on aortic mechanical properties

Introduction: Mechanical aortic properties have been shown to transiently deteriorate in the early post-operative after surgical interventions in the aortic valve (or root) replacement. Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk and mortality. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) on ascending aorta's elasticity. Methods: Aortic stiffness indices were measured non-invasively (echocardiographically) at baseline, 7 days and 1 month post TAVI and invasively (angiographically) acutely pre- and post- TAVI. Invasive evaluation was conducted for two levels of the ascending aorta (3 cm and 6 cm above aortic valve). Results: A total of 30 patients (47% males) were studied with a mean age of 79.9 ± 4.7 years. No significant changes in aortic stiffness indices (aortic distensibility, aortic compliance, aortic stiffness index) were observed. In particular, aortic distensibility remained unchanged post-TAVI as evaluated both non-invasively (from 1.89 ± 1.11 at baseline, to 2.05 ± 1.50 at 7 days post-TAVI, to 1.84 ± 1.34 cm2/(dynes*106); p=0.497) and invasively (at the 3 cm above aortic valve level: from 0.88 ± 0.44 pre- to 0.82 ± 0.47 cm2/(dynes*106) post- TAVI, p=0.637. Results were similar at the 6 cm above aortic valve level. Conclusion: TAVI has no effect on mechanical properties of the ascending aorta in the early post-operative period (up to 1 month).Εισαγωγή: Προηγούμενες μελέτες έχουν δείξει μία παροδική επιδείνωση των μηχανικών ιδιοτήτων της αορτής μετά από χειρουργική αντικατάσταση αορτικής βαλβίδας (ή ρίζας) (ΑΒ). Η αορτική ελαστικότητα αποτελεί ανεξάρτητο προγνωστικό παράγοντα καρδιαγγειακού κινδύνου και θνησιμότητας. Στόχος: Να διερευνηθεί η επίδραση της διακαθετηριακής εμφύτευσης ΑΒ στην ελαστικότητα της αορτής. Μέθοδος: Η αορτική ελαστικότητα εκτιμήθηκε μη επεμβατικά (υπερηχογραφικά) πριν, 7 ημέρες και 1 μήνα μετεπεμβατικά. Οι αορτικές ελαστικές ιδιότητες μελετήθηκαν, επίσης, με επεμβατικό τρόπο (αγγειογραφικά) σε δύο επίπεδα (3 και 6 cm ύπερθεν της ΑΒ) αμέσως πριν και αμέσως μετά την επέμβαση. Αποτελέσματα: Μελετήθηκαν 30 ασθενείς (47% άνδρες) μέσης ηλικίας 79,9 ± 4,7 ετών. Δεν παρατηρήθηκαν σημαντικές μεταβολές των δεικτών ελαστικότητας που υπολογίστηκαν μετά την επέμβαση (αορτική διατασιμότητα, αορτική ενδοτικότητα, δείκτης αορτικής σκληρίας). Συγκεκριμένα, η αορτική διατασιμότητα παρέμεινε αμετάβλητη τόσο κατά την υπερηχογραφική αξιολόγηση: από 1,89 ± 1,11 (αρχικά), σε 2,05 ± 1,50 (7 ημέρες μετά) και 1,84 ± 1,34 cm2/(dynes*106) (1 μήνα μετά) - p=0,497, όσο και κατά την αγγειογραφική αξιολόγηση. Ειδικότερα, στο επίπεδο των 3 cm ύπερθεν της ΑΒ, η αορτική διατασιμότητα παρέμεινε αμετάβλητη από 0,88 ± 0,44 (αμέσως πριν) σε 0,82 ± 0,47 cm2/(dynes*106) (αμέσως μετά την επέμβαση), p=0,637. Αντίστοιχα ήταν τα αποτελέσματα για το επίπεδο των 6 cm ύπερθεν της ΑΒ. Συμπέρασμα: Η διακαθετηριακή εμφύτευση ΑΒ δεν επιδρά στις μηχανικές ιδιότητες της ανιούσας αορτής κατά την βραχυπρόθεσμη μετεπεμβατική περίοδο (1 μήνας)