On Monday 5 May 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias met the Minister of Defence of Hungary Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, who is paying a formal visit to Greece, at the Ministry of National Defence.
After a private meeting between the two Ministers, discussions between the two delegations followed. Among others, issues regarding the enhancement of the bilateral defence cooperation between Greece and Hungary, developments in European Defence and Industry, and regional and international Defence and Security issues were discussed.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Ioannis Kotsakis as representative of the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Director General of the General Directorate of Defence Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) of the Ministry of National Defence, Major General Ioannis Bouras, and the Director General of the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, Honorary Ambassador Michail Spinellis.
During the joint statement, which followed, Mr. Dendias stated:
“Dear Minister, dear Kristóf, it is a great pleasure for me to receive you today at the Ministry of National Defence. Many years have gone by since the last time that a Minister of Defence of Hungary visited Athens.
So, I think that the fact that we are starting a series of continuous and close meetings is very significant, something that I believe will affect our defence positions in a very positive manner.
Our common presence in the European Union, in the framework of which we are partners, but also NATO, where we are allies, creates a very suitable framework for the deepening of our cooperation.
And I would like to make mention to another framework too. There is a Greek community in Hungary. It is included among the 13 recognised minorities, which are represented in the impressive Hungarian Parliament. It is a communication and mutual understanding bridge between our peoples.
Today, we had the opportunity to discuss about a series of useful Defence and Security issues, which are of interest for both our countries, but also about the international community; issues, some of which sadly include conflicts very close to us.
For us, the bilateral cooperation between NATO and European Union member states is more important than ever.
I had the opportunity to brief the Minister regarding the “2030 Agenda”, the overall reform of the Hellenic Armed Forces. We also had the opportunity to talk about our current military cooperation, which not only will continue, but it will also expand, given the broader geopolitical instability environment.
We also discussed about the European rules of Defence funding. Our countries can broaden their participation in the framework of PESCO, the European Defence Fund (EDF), the EDIP initiative, and the SAFE regulation.
Europe must prepare in order to be able to face dangers and threats; this was clear and we absolutely agreed about it. This must be achieved in a manner, which completely secures the sovereignty of member-states and takes security and defence interest of each country into consideration.
One thing is absolutely clear: that Defence is the deepest core of a country’s existence and, as regards Defence issues, we reached total agreement in the fact that decisions made by the European Union must be unanimous.
A great part of our discussion, as I said, was about the propositions regarding the ReArm Plan and the SAFE regulation of the European Commission. Those propositions are headed towards the right direction, however, I had the opportunity to inform my Hungarian counterpart regarding the Greek stance on the choice criteria. Namely, the need to establish a manner of excluding the enhancement of the defence industries of countries, which do not adopt the values of the European Union and do not abide by the Common European Security Policy.
Much less countries that threaten other member-states, which are member-states of our Union.
We also had the opportunity to discuss about the situation in the broader region of the Middle East. Lebanon and Syria were of particular interest. Mr. Minister will visit Lebanon in the following weeks and we agreed on the cooperation to help protect the Christian populations in the broader region of the Middle East. I had also cooperated with Hungary exactly for that purpose, when I was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Minister, dear Kristof, tomorrow you will have the opportunity to visit DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens. The Exhibition has an increased Hungarian presence, something that is very pleasant, because it gives us a new opportunity for new co-operations and the enhancement of older ones.
Our aim is for the two ecosystems, that of Greece and that of Hungary, to cooperate. We are a country with a great defence industry tradition. A protocol, a memorandum between the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Materiel Association and MSV, if I remember the acronym of its Hungarian counterpart correctly. I hope that this leads to the further strengthening of our co-operation.
We will have the opportunity to discuss even further regarding matters, such us our common participation in NATO, the future of the North Atlantic Alliance, and other areas in which we could cooperate, during the meal that will follow.
I would like to tell you that I am particularly happy that you are here and I would like to add a little personal comment. I have a weakness, which I have revealed multiple times. I am a fan of Panathinaikos. When I was a little child in the first grades of Elementary School, the coach of Panathinaikos was a legend of Hungarian Football, Ferenc Puskás. So, ever since I was a little child, I learned to have positive feelings towards Hungary and admire your football.
Once again, I would like to thank you for your presence here today”.
