Greece and France are increasingly shifting their focus from intergovernmental agreements to substantive industrial partnerships in the defense sector, as highlighted at the Greece-France Economic Forum held in Athens during the recent visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The discussion on defense extended beyond geopolitical considerations, focusing on the practical prerequisites for building a strong European defense industrial base. Particular emphasis was placed on joint programs, co-production schemes, and integrated supply chains.
A central theme was the need to overcome the fragmentation that continues to characterize the European market. Despite its high level of technical expertise, Europe’s ability to develop competitive defense systems at scale remains constrained by a lack of coordination and common standards.
Christian Hadjiminas, head of THEON International, addressed this issue directly, stressing that the challenge is not technological but organizational. As he noted, European defense sovereignty can only be achieved through joint procurement and strategic partnerships, with an equitable distribution of industrial workshare. He also pointed out that collaborations between Greek and French companies have already generated defense exports worth hundreds of millions of euros, demonstrating the existence of a scalable and effective model.
From the French side, Pierre Éric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, underscored the long-term dimension of the partnership, noting that the involvement of Greek industry in defense programs-particularly in naval projects-is steadily expanding. He emphasized that the objective is to develop joint projects that create added value for both sides while strengthening Europe’s defense industrial base.
Nicolas Groult of KNDS France highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation as a key instrument for European defense integration. As he noted, programs such as “Philoctetes” demonstrate that partnerships with Greek industry can meet operational requirements while simultaneously reinforcing Europe’s technological base.
From the Greek side, Evangelos Mytilineos of METLEN stressed that Greece can act as an equal industrial partner. However, he also noted that in certain major programs-such as frigate projects-the mobilization of the domestic industrial base could have taken place earlier, in order to further enhance local value added.
Looking ahead, the next phase of Greek-French cooperation appears to be moving beyond straightforward procurement toward more complex co-production and co-development frameworks. This implies a more active integration of Greek companies into European value chains, not merely as subcontractors but as technology partners.
This outlook is closely linked to broader European developments. Rising defense spending, the push for strategic autonomy, and the acceleration of joint European programs are shaping a new environment in which countries with a credible industrial base-such as Greece-are well positioned to assume a more prominent role.
Source: ANA – MPA