The DEFEA Conference 2026 was successfully concluded at the Metropolitan Expo, in Athens, Greece, under the theme “Securing Tomorrow: Defence Strategies for the Future”
The conference brought together a high-level audience from across the international defence and security ecosystem, attracting significant participation from the Greek and global defence industry, institutional stakeholders, armed forces representatives, policymakers, technology leaders and international organisations.
The event featured keynote addresses and participation from senior national and international officials, including the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of National Defence of Greece, Mr. Nikos Dendias, the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Mr. Andrius Kubilius, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mrs. Radmila Shekerinska, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Secretary General of ASD – Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, Mr. Camille Grand and the President of SEKPY – Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Materiel Association, Mr. Tassos Rozolis.
The conference also featured participation from representatives of major European defence industry associations from Slovakia, Germany and France, further reinforcing the international character of the event and the importance of cross-border industrial cooperation within the European defence ecosystem.
In his keynote remarks, President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the importance of stronger European cooperation in defence and security matters, stressing that his presence in Athens reflected a clear political commitment towards enhanced cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Europe. He underlined that a stronger European defence framework would reinforce the transatlantic alliance and NATO.
Greek Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikos Dendias, focused on defence innovation and the transformation of the Greek defence ecosystem, emphasising the strategic role of the Hellenic Center for Defence Innovation (ELKAK). He also underlined the government’s objective to significantly increase the participation of the Greek defence industry in national defence procurement programmes, while highlighting the importance of startups and emerging technologies in shaping the future battlefield.
European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Mr. Andrius Kubilius, presented his vision for the future of European defence, focusing on resilience, strategic autonomy and closer cooperation between governments, armed forces and industry. He stressed the importance of strengthening Europe’s defence industrial base in light of current geopolitical challenges.
NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mrs. Radmila Shekerinska, highlighted the importance of stronger European defence capabilities within the Alliance framework, stating that “we need a strong European defence” and underlining the need for realism and preparedness in addressing current security challenges.
Chief of Defence, General Dimitrios Choupis, referred to the rapidly evolving security environment, describing modern security challenges as multidimensional, hybrid and technology-driven. He stressed that defence today is directly linked to information superiority, cyber resilience, industrial capabilities and technological adaptation, while calling for stronger integration between defence requirements and the innovation ecosystem.
SEKPY President, Mr. Tassos Rozolis, referred to the growing maturity and international footprint of the Greek defence industry ecosystem, noting the strong participation of Greek entities in European Defence Fund programmes and the increasing role of Greek companies within the European defence supply chain.
The conference also hosted representatives from major international and European institutions and organisations, including NSPA, OCCAR, DG DEFIS, EDA, ENISA, NATO DIANA, as well as innovation centres and leading defence and technology companies from Greece and abroad.
Alongside the conference sessions, a series of high-level bilateral meetings took place between government officials, institutional representatives and defence industry executives.
The DEFEA Conference 2026 served as a bridge to the next edition of the international defence and security exhibition and one of the leading defence shows in Europe DEFEA 2027, which will take place on 18–20 May 2027 at the Metropolitan Expo, in Athens, Greece.
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