India-Greece defence ties in focus as Ministers meet in New Delhi

With a focus on enhancing defence cooperation, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a bilateral meeting on Monday (February 9, 2026) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in the defence sector, a senior Defence official said.

Speaking at the India-EU Forum 2026 on Saturday (February 7, 2026), Mr. Dendias described India as an indispensable partner for Europe, highlighting New Delhi’s growing strategic and economic importance for the European Union and Greece in particular. He noted that European perceptions of India have evolved significantly over time, adding that India is now viewed as a “necessary-to-have” partner.

Defence ties between India and Greece have seen steady momentum in recent months. In January this year, the two countries held the inaugural India-Greece Joint Services Staff Talks in New Delhi, marking a step towards institutionalising defence cooperation.

Earlier, in September 2025, the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy conducted their maiden bilateral maritime exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. The exercise, which concluded on September 18, 2025, was carried out in two phases, a harbour phase at Salamis Naval Base from 13 to 17 September, followed by a sea phase on 17 and 18 September. The Indian Navy was represented by the guided missile stealth frigate INS Trikand.

The upcoming ministerial talks are expected to further consolidate the growing defence partnership between the two countries.