Indian Army Demonstrates Operational Prowess to Greek Defence Minister in Bengaluru
The Indian Army showcased its advanced operational and technical capabilities to visiting Greek Defence Minister Nikolaos Dendias during his official trip to Bengaluru. The demonstration took place at the Bengaluru Military Station on Sunday, where Dendias observed cutting-edge indigenous drone and simulator technologies at the 515 Army Base Workshop.
Elite Units Display Equipment and Innovations
The visit featured comprehensive equipment displays by elite units of the Special Forces and Combat Engineers, highlighting the Army's diverse operational readiness. In a post on social media platform X, the Army stated that the Greek defence minister commended the Indian Army's professionalism, innovation, and preparedness. He noted the force's continued commitment to transformation and self-reliance, underscoring its strategic advancements.
Bilateral Meeting Strengthens Defence Ties
On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with his Greek counterpart Dendias in New Delhi. The discussions resulted in significant agreements to further enhance defence cooperation between the two nations. A key outcome was the decision to deploy a Greek International Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, aimed at boosting maritime collaboration.
Strategic Agreements and Future Roadmap
India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to enhance bilateral defence industrial cooperation, which will serve as the foundation for developing a detailed five-year roadmap. Additionally, the two countries exchanged the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026, outlining the scope of military engagements between their armed forces, as confirmed by a Ministry of Defence release.
Historical Partnership and Shared Values
During the interaction, Singh emphasized that India attaches great importance to its longstanding and time-tested partnership with Greece, founded on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and the rule of law. He highlighted that bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2023 and were further strengthened by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's visit to India in February 2024.
Maritime Cooperation and Defence Initiatives
The defence minister welcomed the decision to position a Greek International Liaison Officer at IFC-IOR, describing it as an important step towards enhancing maritime cooperation between the two ancient seafaring nations. He expressed confidence that defence ties would continue to expand in alignment with India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and Greece's defence reforms under Agenda 2030.
Regional and Global Security Discussions
The two ministers discussed regional and global security issues, acknowledging the growing convergence between India and Greece on maritime security and strategic matters. Both sides reiterated that the India–Greece Strategic Partnership is anchored in mutual respect and shared democratic values, reinforcing their commitment to collaborative security efforts.
