Greece, France Set to Renew and Expand Defence Agreement

Greece and France are moving to renew and expand their bilateral defence cooperation pact, with both sides actively negotiating updates to the framework first agreed in September 2021. Negotiators say they expect to conclude an updated agreement in the coming weeks to months, following high-level defence talks in Athens.

The original 2021 defence agreement includes a mutual assistance clause triggered in the event that one party is attacked by a third state. The updated deal under negotiation will retain this mutual security component while broadening cooperation to cover additional military capability areas.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin met to advance the talks aboard the new French-built Belharra-class frigate Kimon at the Salamina naval base. Officials from both governments stated that the expanded pact is expected to include joint operational planning, air and missile defence cooperation, and collaboration on future technologies such as satellites, unmanned systems and electronic warfare.

This diplomatic push coincides with Greece’s accelerating naval modernisation program. In late 2025, Greece took delivery of its first Belharra-class frigate, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to enhance maritime capabilities. The frigate is part of a broader acquisition programme from France that also includes Rafale fighter jets and associated support systems.

French officials have additionally discussed potential orders for additional Kimon-class frigates with some elements of production taking place in Greek shipyards, although no binding contract has yet been reported. These discussions form part of a wider effort to deepen industrial cooperation alongside strategic defence ties.

Officials on both sides have emphasized that the renewed agreement will reflect changes in the regional security environment since 2021, with a focus on interoperability and capability integration across the two countries’ armed forces.

The revised pact, once finalised and ratified through each country’s legislative procedures, is expected to serve as a central pillar of Franco-Greek defence cooperation in the second half of the decade.