New Delhi: India and Greece took a significant step towards strengthening their strategic and defence partnership as Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with the Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias, in New Delhi on Monday.
Both leaders reaffirmed that the India–Greece Strategic Partnership is firmly rooted in shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect, and agreed to further deepen cooperation across defence, security, and industrial domains.
Joint Declaration to Boost Defence Industrial Cooperation
A major outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent aimed at strengthening defence industrial collaboration between the two countries. The declaration serves as a foundation for developing a five-year roadmap to enhance cooperation between India’s and Greece’s indigenous defence industries.
The two sides agreed to expand industrial capacity through synergy between India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and Greece’s defence reforms under ‘Agenda 2030’, focusing on co-development, co-production, and technology collaboration.
Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan 2026 Exchanged
During the discussions, the Defence Ministers exchanged the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (BMCP) for 2026, which will guide future military-to-military engagements, joint activities, and cooperation between the Armed Forces of both nations.
Both sides acknowledged the steady deepening of defence cooperation and emphasized the importance of sustained military exchanges to strengthen operational understanding and strategic trust.
Regional Peace, Security, and Maritime Cooperation
The ministers also discussed regional and global security challenges, reiterating their shared commitment to peace and stability. Special emphasis was laid on maritime cooperation, reflecting the convergence of interests between India and Greece as ancient sea-faring civilizations.
In a significant maritime security initiative, the Greek side announced the posting of a Greek International Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram. The move is expected to enhance maritime domain awareness and information sharing in the Indian Ocean region.
Ceremonial Honours and Official Engagements
Ahead of the bilateral talks, Greek Defence Minister Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias paid tribute to India’s fallen heroes by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. He also inspected the Tri-Service Guard of Honour at the Manekshaw Centre, underscoring the ceremonial and symbolic importance of the visit.
Visit to Defence and Industrial Establishments
During his stay in India, the Hellenic Defence Minister and his delegation visited key defence and industrial establishments in Bengaluru. They also interacted with representatives from Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), the private defence industry, and start-ups in New Delhi.
These engagements aimed at exploring opportunities for industrial collaboration, innovation, and technology partnerships between the two countries.
Strategic Partnership Reaffirmed
The visit reaffirmed the long-standing warm and close relationship between India and the Hellenic Republic, rooted in historical ties and growing strategic convergence. Both sides expressed confidence that the strengthened defence partnership would contribute to regional stability and global security.
Key Outcomes of the Visit
- Joint Declaration of Intent signed on defence industrial cooperation
- Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 exchanged
- Agreement to align Aatmanirbhar Bharat with Greece’s Agenda 2030
- Greek Liaison Officer to be positioned at IFC-IOR, Gurugram
- Enhanced focus on maritime security and defence industry collaboration
