Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias visited Sofia on Thursday, 12 March 2026, following an invitation from his Bulgarian counterpart Atanas Zapryanov, in a visit aimed at deepening bilateral defence cooperation and coordination within the European defence framework.

At the beginning of the visit, Minister Dendias was received by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Andrey Gyurov, before proceeding to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence where he held official talks with Minister Zapryanov.

During their meeting, both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria, particularly in the fields of defence innovation and the development of the European defence industrial ecosystem. The two ministers highlighted the potential for deeper collaboration within the framework of the SAFE regulation, which supports defence industry development and innovation across the European Union.

In his remarks following the meeting, Dendias emphasized the importance of the long-standing relationship between the two countries and Greece’s historical support for Bulgaria’s European integration, recalling Greece’s role in promoting the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003, which supported the accession of Balkan states to the European Union.

A key element of the discussions concerned regional security challenges. Dendias noted that Greece had responded to Bulgaria’s request for assistance in addressing emerging threats related to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, underlining the importance of allied solidarity in protecting European airspace.

As part of this support, a Greek Patriot air defence battery has been deployed to cover a significant portion of Bulgarian airspace against potential missile threats. In addition, a pair of Greek F-16 fighter aircraft is currently contributing to the protection of Bulgaria’s entire airspace against other aerial threats, including drones.

To enhance operational coordination, Greece has also assigned two senior officers to work with the Bulgarian Armed Forces’ Operations Centre.

Beyond the current security situation, the ministers also discussed broader strategic issues, including military mobility and regional infrastructure, as well as initiatives to strengthen cooperation with Romania in improving defence transport corridors in Southeast Europe.

Dendias also highlighted Greece’s ongoing “Agenda 2030” defence reform programme, which includes the development of integrated capabilities such as the “Achilles Shield” concept and the “Centaur” anti-drone system, already deployed in operational theatres including the Red Sea and areas near Cyprus.

Both ministers agreed that closer cooperation between the defence innovation ecosystems of Greece and Bulgaria could strengthen regional security while contributing to Europe’s broader strategic autonomy.