On Monday, 12 February 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias completed his visit to London with a meeting at the Greek Ambassador’s residence with the Minister of State for the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, James Heappey, responsible, among others, for the Operational Policy of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. 
During the meeting, which took place within the framework of a working breakfast, adding to a long series of contacts with the United Kingdom lately, the two parties referred to the long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, both at the bilateral, as well as at the NATO and International Organisation level. 
They also discussed, within the framework of further strengthening the defence relations between the two countries, ways to deal with common challenges, such as the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Red Sea. 
The meeting also included discussions on Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea and a briefing by the Greek Minister of National Defence on Greece's participation in EU Operation Aspides. 
Mr. Dendias stressed that Greece, the country with the biggest merchant fleet, can not stand idly by and allow acts of terrorism and will protect free shipping and ensure the safety of seamen, in cooperation with its allies and partners. 
The Greek Minister also communicated the creation of the Greek innovation ecosystem in our country's Armed Forces, inviting the United Kingdom to join, while discussions were also made, within the framework of bilateral defence cooperation, on the potential grant of minehunters by the United Kingdom to Greece.