New Delhi
India and Greece are reinforcing their defence ties as top defence officials of both countries are engaged in high-level talks today in the capital. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is holding talks with Greek Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Georgios S. Dendias at New Delhi to explore various ways of military cooperation, exchanging of strategic views and promotion of deeper defence ties between the two countries.
February 9, 2026, at the Manekshaw Centre, the bilateral meeting is a step forward in the unfolding India-Athens strategic engagement story. Defence cooperation is fast becoming not only a focal point but also the core of the wider partnership which includes political dialogues and security cooperation, the officials, speaking to the media prior to the talks, revealed.
Strategic Engagement on the Rise
The defence dialogue is preceded by other interactions this week. On 7 February, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met with Mr Dendias in New Delhi to discuss regional security and strategic issues . The two leaders underlined shared concerns and mutual interests in defence and stability.
Mr Dendias came to India on 6 February for an official visit that will last until the meeting today. During his stay in India, he took part in policy dialogues and attended strategic discussions at the India – EU Forum where he considered India as an indispensable partner for Europe’s security as well as economic cooperation in the wider strategic landscape.
Defence Cooperation on the Agenda
Defence officials from the two countries will probably cover topics such as enhancing interoperability, joint training programmes, information sharing, and looking at military cooperation in the future. Both sides, however, have stressed the need to keep developing defence relations especially when it comes to changes in global security climate, as such relations are important for both countries.
India and Greece, despite the fact that the two countries are far apart, have managed to discover a shared defence and security cooperation. Defence cooperation has become one of the major pillars of this growing bilateral relationship, as certainly there are a lot of regional and global issues that both countries would like to see solved – stability in the maritime areas is just one example of the issues on which they share the same interest.
Broader Regional and Global Context
India’s engagement with Greece is just one aspect of India strengthening its strategic partnerships with European nations. It was just a few weeks ago that India finished negotiations for an India – European Union Free Trade Agreement, which will open doors to deeper ties between the two in not only economy but also security.
Mr Dendias, in his opening remarks at the India-EU Forum, noted that there was a change in the perception of India’s role in international relations and that India was now being viewed as necessary-to-have from the strategic point of view of Europe. The minister’s observation demonstrates the common desire for deeper co-operation not just at the two countries’ level but also within global structures.
Expectations from Today’s Talks
Officials indicate that the leaders’ discussion might emphasize ways for making joint military exercises more effective, also the scope for defence exhibition and exchange of ideas in the domain of defence innovation. Both ministries have kept working at the officials’ level for several months now in this meeting’s preparation, which is a reflection of the importance that has now been given to defence talks.
Sources close to the negotiations said that both parties consider the meeting as a chance to lay down the roadmap for future cooperation including regularised defence exchanges and technology sharing agreements.
Although the present discussions concentrate on defence matters, the visit might also be a breakthrough for strategical partnership in the near future.
India – Greece Relations: A Steady Rise
Over the timeline of history, departmental relations between India and Greece have continuously grown, touching upon culture, economy, and defence . Recent visits of Greek officials and Indian delegations have aided in building confidence and the opening of channels for strategic dialogue.
Greece and India have not been defence cooperation partners in the past,but their common interests in maritime security, regional stability, and defence industry collaboration are bringing them closer.
This meeting is a follow up on the same path and it shows an intent to cooperate even more on global security concerns.
Looking Ahead
The two sides are holding talks in New Delhi and are expected to issue a joint statement after the discussions.Experts point out that the current meeting may result in deeper defence cooperation which may entail future staff talks, training exchanges, and potential technology partnerships.
Both sides’ representatives are upbeat that the bilateral defence ties could be further deepened, and regional security issues better understood through their talks. As the meeting moves ahead, watchers in New Delhi and from other places will be monitoring the situation very closely looking for evidence or indications of concrete agreements or cooperation frameworks of the future stemming from today’s discussions.
