New Delhi played host to a high-level strategic meeting on February 9, 2026 where Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Greek counterpart, Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias, officially inked a new defense agreement following a series of substantive bilateral discussions.
This partnership marks a significant pivot toward closer military cooperation between the two nations, blending India’s growing defense manufacturing prowess with Greece’s key geopolitical position in Europe.Dendias highlighted the partnership’s significance, noting that India is a country of 1.4 billion people with a 1.5 million strong military, making this an extraordinarily important strategic relationship for Greece.
The cooperation centers on several key areas. Greece will position an International Liaison Officer at India’s Information Fusion Centre in Gurugram, enhancing maritime security collaboration. The two nations conducted their maiden bilateral maritime exercise in the Mediterranean Sea in September 2025, demonstrating growing naval interoperability. Reports suggest India has offered Greece its Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile with a 1,000 to 1,500 kilometre range, though this remains unconfirmed.
Both countries have exchanged a Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026, outlining future joint training exercises and technology transfers. The partnership extends to defence production, with both nations exploring opportunities for co-manufacturing military equipment.Analysts view this deepening relationship through a geopolitical lens. Professor Mushahid Hussain Sayed described India’s military engagement with Greece as a symbolic response to growing defence cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan. The partnership effectively creates a counterbalance in regional power dynamics.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also shared on social media his appreciation for in-depth discussions on strategic and security issues with the visiting minister.
