India-Greece 2nd Defence JWG in Athens eyes joint ventures, maritime pact
Synopsis
India and Greece are moving beyond symbolic ties toward a defence industrial roadmap — joint ventures, co-production, and maritime security at the core. The second JWG meeting in Athens and Defence Secretary Singh's high-level engagements signal that New Delhi is actively embedding a NATO Mediterranean partner into its diversified strategic network.
Key Takeaways
India and Greece held the 2nd Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation on 15 October 2026 at the Hellenic Army Academy, Athens .
Both sides agreed to develop an industrial roadmap for joint ventures, co-production, and co-development in areas of mutual interest.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Greek Deputy Defence Minister Athanasios Davakis on 14 October , agreeing to prioritise policy planning and Joint Staff Talks.
Singh also held talks with Permanent Deputy Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulu on expanding maritime security cooperation.
Singh paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square , marking the formal start of his official visit.
India and Greece held the second Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation on 15 October 2026 at the Hellenic Army Academy in Athens, with both sides reviewing existing defence ties and exploring new initiatives spanning capacity building, training, regional security, defence industry collaboration, and maritime cooperation.
Key Developments at the JWG Meeting
Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, Dr Amit Telang and Ambassador Michel Spinellis co-chaired the session. Crucially, both delegations agreed to develop an industrial roadmap to promote joint ventures, co-production, and co-development in areas of mutual interest — a concrete deliverable that elevates this round of talks beyond a standard review meeting.
According to the Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Public Relations, both sides 'agreed to develop an industrial roadmap to promote joint ventures, co-production and co-development in areas of mutual interest.'
Defence Secretary Singh's High-Level Engagements
A day earlier, on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held talks in Athens with Greece's Deputy Minister of National Defence, Athanasios Davakis, where both nations agreed to expand defence cooperation, prioritising policy planning, Joint Staff Talks, and defence industry collaboration, alongside joint exercises and regular bilateral exchanges.
Singh also met Greece's Permanent Deputy Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Papadopoulu, for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolving India-Greece defence and strategic partnership, covering bilateral, regional, and global issues. The Ministry of Defence noted that as prominent maritime nations, India and Greece attach 'special importance to further expanding their maritime security cooperation and strengthening bilateral defence partnership in the maritime and defence industrial domains.'
Symbolic Start: Wreath-Laying at Syntagma Square
Singh commenced his official visit to Greece with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Hellenic Armed Forces at Syntagma Square in Athens, paying tribute to fallen soldiers — a diplomatic gesture that underscored the solemnity with which India approaches the bilateral engagement.
Why This Partnership Matters
This comes amid a broader Indian push to deepen defence ties with European nations as New Delhi diversifies its strategic partnerships beyond traditional suppliers. Greece, a NATO member and a key maritime power in the Eastern Mediterranean, offers India a valuable node for naval cooperation, port access diplomacy, and defence industrial linkages. Notably, this is only the second JWG meeting in the India-Greece defence framework, suggesting the relationship — while growing — is still in an early institutionalisation phase.
The agreed industrial roadmap, if implemented, could open pathways for Indian defence manufacturers to access European standards and co-develop platforms suited to both nations' strategic needs in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean corridors.
What Comes Next
The two sides are expected to formalise the industrial roadmap through follow-on technical working groups. Joint Staff Talks — agreed in principle — will define the operational dimension of the partnership. The outcome of Singh's Athens visit is likely to feed into broader India-EU defence engagement discussions in the coming months.
Point of View
Under pressure to modernise its armed forces as a NATO frontline state, gains access to cost-competitive Indian platforms and a strategic partner outside the traditional US-France-Germany axis. The real test will be whether the industrial roadmap translates into signed agreements or remains aspirational — India's bilateral defence frameworks have a track record of promising co-development without delivering timelines. With Joint Staff Talks now on the agenda, the operational dimension is opening up; how fast it moves will depend on whether both defence ministries can cut through procurement bureaucracy on both sides.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was agreed at the 2nd India-Greece Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation?
Both sides agreed to develop an industrial roadmap to promote joint ventures, co-production, and co-development in areas of mutual interest. They also reviewed ongoing cooperation in capacity building, training, regional security, and maritime cooperation at the meeting held on 15 October 2026 at the Hellenic Army Academy in Athens.
Who represented India at the India-Greece defence talks in Athens?
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh led India's engagement, meeting both Greece's Deputy Minister of National Defence Athanasios Davakis and Permanent Deputy Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulu. The JWG itself was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Dr Amit Telang and Ambassador Michel Spinellis.
Why is India deepening defence ties with Greece?
Greece is a NATO member and a major maritime power in the Eastern Mediterranean, making it a strategic partner for India as New Delhi diversifies defence relationships beyond traditional suppliers. Both nations attach importance to maritime security cooperation and defence industrial collaboration, according to the Ministry of Defence.
What is the significance of the industrial roadmap agreed between India and Greece?
The industrial roadmap is aimed at enabling joint ventures, co-production, and co-development between the two countries' defence industries in areas of mutual interest. It represents a shift from purely diplomatic and training-focused ties toward a more structural, manufacturing-linked partnership.
What other engagements did India's Defence Secretary have during the Athens visit?
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Greece's Deputy Defence Minister and its Permanent Deputy Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, discussing strategic partnership and maritime security. He also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square to mark the beginning of his official visit.
