On Tuesday 6 May 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, inaugurated the DEFEA 2025 International Exhibition for Defence, Security and Technology, which is taking place at the Metropolitan Expo center near “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport.
The exhibition is organized by the Ministry of National Defence.
In his address during the official inauguration ceremony, Mr. Dendias stated the following:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour for me to welcome you today in Athens, at the heart of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, on the occasion of the official inauguration of DEFEA 2024 International Defence Exhibition.
Α prestigious Exhibition, held under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defence, which brings together leading stakeholders and companies from the global defence sector. This year’s event records a record number of participants. Therefore, I should like to extent warm thanks to all those involved in the Exhibition.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Defence industry, scientific research, and innovation are at the core of the national defence strategy of the Hellenic Republic.
And the Ministry of National Defence considers the strengthening of the domestic defence industry and the domestic innovation ecosystem to be the driver for economic growth and technological superiority.
In this context, the Ministry sets two key strategic objectives:
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Expanding the participation of the domestic defence industry in armament programmes;
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Developing a robust innovation ecosystem.
The key role in this latter effort is played by the Hellenic Center of Defence and Innovation (HCDI, ELKAK), which is already completing its one year of life.
It connects for the first time innovative ideas and the innovative defence ecosystem with the needs of the Armed Forces, through a newly established Innovation Directorate of the Armed Forces.
It connects the dynamics of academic search and research center with contemporary operational requirements.
ELKAK is already operational with 10 research programmes, and 11 more are expected to be launched by the end of the year.
Thus, through ELKAK, Greece pursues a presence in the developments in crucial areas, in Artificial Intelligence, in unmanned autonomous systems, cyber-operations, and space applications.
In the spirit also of the “Agenda 2030”, the greatest reform in the history of new Greece, as the Prime Minister described it, the Long-Term Defence Armaments Plan (LTDAP) has been prepared. The LTDAP covers a period of 12, plus 8, years; in other words, it spans 20 years.
Innovative armament programmes involving modern operational Cyberwar tools, satellite systems and Command & Control software have been planned.
The Long-Term Defence Armaments Plan (LTDAP) offers a 20-year predictability and strategic visibility to the defence industry.
Our key goal, as I already said, is for 25% of the procurement programs to come from Greek companies.
However, I should like to clarify something else. The strengthening of the country’s deterrence effect should be accompanied by absolute transparency. In other words, by respecting the Greek people’s hard-earned money.
Our goal, Ladies and Gentlemen, is strategic. It is not circumstantial. It consists of the creation of a healthy, productive and export-oriented ecosystem. And not a state-owned cluster of representatives and occasional actors that will have an insignificant economic effect by the end of the day, let alone lack of transparency and corruption.
Corruption, Ladies and Gentlemen, has always been a problem. And it is not only a moral issue, but also a developmental and economic one.
Corruption not only takes resources away, but makes something even worse. It leads to wrong ways, after distorting the criterion of choice. It alienates the society, the people from the defence effort and discourages healthy firms, and yet start-ups, from getting involved and investing in Defence.
By 2004, Greece spent – adjusted to today’s prices – over 270 billion Euro on defence procurement. Had the choices over the year been more optimal, to put it delicately, these funds could have made Greece a major exporting power.
To address this, I have already announced a series of transparency measures accompanying the Long-Term Defence Armaments Plan. However, I would like to say that the Ministry of National Defence is ready to discuss and adopt all those reasonable measures indicated by the political parties and the society.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Greece is actively involved at a European level in the initiatives for the strengthening of the joint defence effort.
We acknowledge the constantly changing geostrategic conditions and the increased deterrence and security requirements in Europe.
We are ready to incorporate the opportunities offered by the ReArm Europe initiative.
ReArm Europe is not just the European response to today’s challenges; it constitutes a driver of strategic autonomy and solidarity, in which Greece takes part.
Greece is a hub of cooperation. Greece wants to be a forum to meet and discuss ideas and DEFEA is the ideal platform for this. In this way, we may also exchange know-how. And strengthen collective defence.
Our country, being a EU and NATO member-state, is firmly and historically committed to the principles of international legality, allied cohesion and collective security.
And the presence of allies, partners and friends at the DEFEA is an indication of unity, common understanding and joint orientation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Defence spending has been for Greece a condition for our national survival.
However, I dare say, that for the first time defence spending is being viewed as a lever for economic growth and an area of economic cooperation with friendly countries.
Defence spending, if made properly, may lever growth, may create wealth.
Defence spending may create highly skilled jobs within and outside the Armed Forces.
It may lever – and that is one of our main priorities – a significant export-oriented activity that could address at last, to the extent permitted, the long-lasting problem of the balance of external payments. Because the balance-of-payment deficit itself threatens Greece’s security.
And I am certain, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the path we chose is the proper one or rather, allow me to say, the only one.
Thank you very much”.
Addresses were also given by the Director of DEFEA 2025 Exhibition Vasilis Barkas and the Chairman of the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence and Security Material Association (SEKPY) Tasos Rozolis.
On the sidelines of the DEFEA 2025 proceedings, the Minister of National Defence had meetings with the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, the Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan, with whom he discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic defence partnership relationship between both countries, and with the Minister of Defence of Cabo Verde Janine Lélis with whom a Memorandum of Cooperation was concluded on the provision of assistance in the military training of students from Cabo Verde in the context of strengthening the bilateral defence relationship. The Chief HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Antonios Oikonomou and the Director General of the General Directorate for National Defence Policy and International Relations Ambassador (ret.) Michail Spinellis also took part in the meetings.
The opening ceremony for the DEFEA 2025 was also honoured with the presence of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister of Climate Change and Civil Protection Giannis Kefalogiannis, the Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay – Bobrovniczky, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, the Deputy Minister of Development competent for research and innovation issues Stavros Kalafatis, the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Stefanos Gkikas, the Minister for Defence Procurement of the United Kingdom Maria Eagle, Members of the Parliament, as well as members of foreign diplomatic delegations, Defence Attachés of foreign countries, representatives of the Regional and Local Administration.
On the part of the Military Leadership, the ceremony was also attended by the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras, the Chief HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Director General of the MOD’s General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments Major General Ioannis Bouras, as well as representatives of the Security Forces.
