The General Director of National Defence Policy & International Relations (GDNDPIR) of the Ministry of National Defence (MoD) Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, held a working meeting on Thursday 04 May 2023, with the Ambassador of Estonia to Greece, Ms. Karin Rannu.

The main focus of the meeting was the strengthening of the bilateral defence relations between Greece and Estonia and the examination of the security environment in Europe, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean as it is shaped following the latest geopolitical developments in the wider region.

In more detail, the General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations and the Ambassador of Estonia had the opportunity to exchange views on:

• The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the broader geopolitical environment.

• The security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Türkiye’s review policy in the wider Mediterranean, and the Middle East and North Africa region.

• The security challenges and threats the two countries face as EU and NATO member states.

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

• The joint participation and strong activity of the two countries in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and DIANA programmes within the EU and NATO.

• Greece’s active contribution to the Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence (CCD CoE).

In addition, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos and Ms Karin Rannu, given the exceptional bilateral level of Greek-Estonian cooperation in all areas, explored ways of improving the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.

To conclude, the prospect of creating a strong diplomatic and defence axis between Greece and Estonia in both the EU and NATO was jointly considered as very important.