The General Director of the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations (GDNDPIR) of the Ministry of National Defence (MoD) Ambassador a.h. Michel Spinellis, in the context of activities to strengthen bilateral defence relations between Greece and India, held consultations with his Indian counterpart, Shri Vishwesh Negi.

The meeting took place on Wednesday 03 July 2024 in New Delhi, at the official invitation of the Indian Director of Defence Policy.

The main focus of the talks was the strengthening of bilateral and defence relations, including the defence industry, especially after the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Greece (25 Aug 23) and the reciprocal visit of his Greek counterpart to India (21-22 Feb 24). They also examined the geostrategic security environment in the Indo-Pacific, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and Europe, as it is shaped by the latest developments in Ukraine’s war, Israel’s conflict with Hamas, and the Houthis’ activity in the Red Sea.

They discussed the establishment of the Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation (JWGDC), which will be the “vehicle” of the two Ministries of Defence, to coordinate existing actions, but also to further deepen bilateral defence relations.

In the margins of his visit, the General Director of GDNDPIR held a courtesy meeting with the Ambassador of Greece in New Delhi, Ms. Koutsomitopoulou Aliki, during which they discussed various issues of mutual interest.

In that regard, on 02 July 2024, under the coordination of the Department of Defence Procurement of the Ministry of Defence of India, a presentation of Indian defence production companies took place.

In addition, the General Director of GDNDPIR paid a visit to the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), where the Director of the Centre briefed him on its mission and actions.

Finally, the General Director of GDNDPIR, Ambassador a.h. Michel Spinellis, laid a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier of India.