Landmark Event in European Defence

DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens 2025, held from May 6 to May 8, 2025, at Metropolitan Expo, concluded with absolute success, establishing itself as one of the largest international defence exhibitions in Europe. This landmark event brought together global defence players and industry leaders from Europe, North America, Africa, Central and Eastern Asia, and the Middle East, gaining praise from official delegations, high-level attendees and exhibitors representing over 90 nations, marking a significant milestone for the global defence sector. The exhibition showcased advanced technological innovations and reinforced Greece’s strategic importance within NATO and as a key industrial partner in an era of heightened European focus on enhancing defence capabilities.

Unprecedented Global Participation

The event attracted 30.137 visitors from 92 countries who explored state-of-the-art defence and security systems across domains including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. A total of 436 exhibitors from 37 countries and 18 national pavilions presented cutting-edge solutions, offering attendees an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the forefront of defence technology. The presence of 106 official delegations from 48 countries, led by 25 Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Defence, General Secretaries, Chiefs of Armed Forces and General Staffs, along with 17 Armaments Directorates and Ambassadors from more than 30 countries.

Strategic Engagements with International Organizations

DEFEA 2025 featured robust participation from key international organizations, including the European Commission and NATO. Senior representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), the European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), and the Organisation for Joint Armament

Cooperation (OCCAR) held productive meetings with delegations and industry leaders.

Bilateral and Multilateral Meetings

On the sidelines of DEFEA 2025, the Greek Minister of Defence Mr. Dendias had a cordial meeting with the President of Cyprus and the Minister of Defence of Cyprus, the Armenian Minister of Defence and his counterpart from Cape Verde, as well as the Defence Minister of Hungary. Also present were the UK Deputy Minister of Defence responsible for defence industry matters and the deputy ministers of Philippines, Bulgaria, Italy, Cyprus and Slovakia.

Political and Institutional Presence

Also present were the Secretary General for National Security, the Ministers of Development, Shipping and Island Policy, Digital Policy, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Infrastructure and Transport, Deputy Ministers, Political Party leaders and Members of the Hellenic Parliament, Members of the defence committee of the Hellenic Parliament, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, Defense Attachés from foreign countries and representatives of regional and local government.

Key Conferences and Presentations

A focal point of the exhibition was a series of high-level discussions and presentations organized by prominent organizations, including DG-DEFIS, European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO DIANA accelerator (NCSR Demokritos), the Hellenic Center for Defence Innovation (HCDI), the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Materiel Association (SEKPY) and European defence associations.

Global Industry Presence and Matchmaking

The global defence industry was represented at the highest levels, with presidents, CEOs, managing directors, vice presidents, and senior executives from leading companies in attendance. DEFEA 2025 served as a platform for the signing of major industrial cooperation agreements, encompassing autonomous systems for land, air, and sea operations, advanced air defence systems, armoured vehicles, and precision-guided munitions. Beyond these high-level engagements, the event facilitated 492 business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking meetings, expertly coordinated by the PRAXI Network, part of the Enterprise Europe Network.

Greece at the Forefront of Defence

DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens 2025 has firmly positioned Greece at the forefront of the international defence landscape, creating substantial opportunities for the growth of the domestic defence industry while enhancing the nation’s defence and diplomatic influence. The success of this year’s event has laid a strong foundation for an even more expansive and impactful exhibition planned for 2027, promising to further elevate Greece’s role in shaping the future of global defence.

DEFEA 2027, will place from 18–20 May 2027 at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens/