On April 14, 2025, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu squeezed in a visit to the nearby island of Salamis during his hectic one‑day trip to Athens, Greece—despite back‑to‑back meetings with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias. There, on the historic island long synonymous with naval warfare, the French Minister. There, on the historic island long synonymous with naval warfare, the French Minister—accompanied by Deputy Minister of National Defense Thanasis Davakis; Her Excellency the Ambassador of the French Republic to Greece Laurence Auer; the French Defense and Armaments Attachés at the Embassy; Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff; Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff; and other dignitaries—visited the island’s namesake, the Salamis Shipyards. These shipyards are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the deepening strategic partnership between France and Greece, while also playing a pivotal role in revitalizing Greece’s domestic defense industry. My story for Naval News, here.
On Monday, April 14, 2025, Greece signed an intergovernmental agreement with France for the procurement of 16 EXOCET MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles with land attack capability from MBDA. The Interstate Convention was officially signed in Athens by Major General Ioannis Bouras, General Director of the General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA), and Mrs Annie Kristina Ramon, representative of MBDA (missile systems), in the presence of the Greek and French Ministers of Defense, Nikos Dendias and Sébastien Lecornu, respectively. The signing took place during an official visit by the French delegation, underscoring the deepening strategic relationship between the two nations. My story for Naval News, here.
On April 10, Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias addressed the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Standing Committee on Armament Programmes and Contracts regarding the Long-term Planning of Defence Armaments of the Armed Forces 2025–2036. The following day, April 11, he expanded on the program in an interview with journalist Apostolos Mangiriadis at the Delphi Economic Forum X. In both appearances, he presented the long-awaited defense procurement plan for the Hellenic Armed Forces. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen national defense and upgrade military capabilities over the next 12 years in response to rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics. Central to the plan is a comprehensive naval armament program. The Long-term Planning of Defence Armaments 2025–2036 is aligned with the new Force Structure and forms a key component of the broader “Agenda 2030” reform framework. It encompasses a wide range of projects, with particular emphasis on the modernization and expansion of the Hellenic Navy. My story for Naval News, here.
A few days after reports in the Greek media suggested Greece’s interest in acquiring used Bergamini-class (FREMM IT) frigates from the Italian Navy—and amid ongoing discussions between the two sides, including last Sunday’s visit by Greek military and political leaders to the frigate Carlo Margottini, which was stationed in Piraeus in the presence of the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino—Naval News has learned that French shipbuilder Naval Group has presented the Greek authorities with a proposal aimed at strengthening the French-Greek cooperation in naval defense and technology. The proposal includes, among other elements, the local construction of three (3) additional Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates, in addition to the four (4) already set to be acquired by Greece, with the finalization of the fourth frigate expected in the coming days. My story for Naval News, here.
