The General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations (GDNDPIR) of the Ministry of National Defence (MoD) Dr. Konstantinos Balmenos, held a ceremonial meeting with the Ambassador of Hungary to Greece, Mr Erik Haupt, on Wednesday 07 June 2023.

The main focus of the meeting was the strengthening of bilateral defence relations and the consideration of the security environment in Europe, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean, as shaped by the latest geopolitical developments in the wider region.

In particular, the two officials had the opportunity to exchange views on:

• The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the wider geopolitical environment, as well as the support of Athens and Budapest to Kiev to date.

• The security challenges and threats that the two countries face within the context of the EU and NATO.

• The preparations for the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius next July.

• The joint participation and active participation in the programmes of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the framework of the EU and the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) under NATO.

• The refugee crisis and illegal migration, which are major problems.

• The ways to further strengthen the bilateral defence relationship through joint actions and cooperation.

In conclusion, the importance of the prospect for the creation of a strong diplomatic and defence axis between Greece and Hungary both bilaterally and multilaterally was stressed.