The visit of the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, to the United Kingdom was concluded on Tuesday 25 February 2025 by a meeting with his British counterpart John Healey.
The two Ministers discussed the possibilities for cooperation between Greece and the United Kingdom in tackling the regional and international security challenges, as well as in strengthening further the defence relations between both countries both at bilateral level and within NATO.
The Minister of National Defence in his statement referred in connection with his visit to the United Kingdom to the following:
“My visit to the United Kingdom ends today with a meeting with my counterpart, Minister of Defence John Healey.
I had met Mr. John Healey when he was still Shadow Secretary in the Opposition.
These past days, I had the opportunity to meet with the National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, the competent Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle, as well as with the Chairman of the Defence Select Committee Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi.
I also had a cordial conversation with the former Chief of the Royal Navy, who is of Greek origin.
With my visit to the United Kingdom, I sought to have a clear idea of the way the UK government reads the new situation in our wider region and the geopolitical challenges that are posed thereby. From Ukraine to eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Gaza strip, Syria, and Sahel.
I believe that it was a visit that allowed for a frank exchange of views and it remains to be seen how things will turn out in this difficult environment”.
On Monday 24 February 2025, Mr. Dendias had a meeting with the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle(pictured above with the British Ambassador in Athens Matthew Lodge), during which the possibilities for further strengthening the relations between the defence industries of Greece and the United Kingdom have been examined. Moreover, the prospect for the development of cooperation between the Greek innovation ecosystem in the Armed Forces and the corresponding British one has been discussed.
In the context of his visit, the Minister of National Defence also visited the House of Commons, where he had a meeting with the Chairman of the Defence Select Committee Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and members of the Committee.
During the meeting, Mr. Dendias highlighted Greece’s stabilizing role in the Southeastern wing of NATO and provided information about the “2030 Agenda”. In the course of discussion, the security situation in Southeastern Mediterranean Sea has been examined, the importance of the United Kingdom for the European security system has been stressed, and the promotion of parliamentary diplomacy through Defence Committees of both countries has been agreed.
During his visit to London, Mr. Dendias also had a meeting (21/2/2025) with the National Security Adviser of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell. At that meeting, the security situation in the wider Southeastern Mediterranean region has been discussed, as well as other international and regional security challenges.
The Greek Minister also met (24/2/2025) the former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, who is of Greek origin (pictured above).
