Dendias Asks Italy for Two Used Minehunters at Venice ADRION Talks

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias met his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, in Venice on the sidelines of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (ADRION) defence ministers’ meeting, and raised the possible transfer to Greece of two second-hand Italian Navy minehunters.

Dendias said the bilateral talks focused on the handover of the two used vessels. The discussion comes as Athens and Rome deepen defence and industrial ties, following the 2+2 FREMM frigate arrangement between the two countries.

At the ministerial meeting, hosted by Crosetto, Greece pressed for closer cooperation with Adriatic and Ionian states to strengthen security, stability and operational coordination across the wider region, including the Mediterranean.

Ministers discussed current security challenges and the case for a stronger collective European defence response. Dendias underlined the need for a common European defence shield on the model of Greece’s “Achilles Shield,” which Athens is already planning against the Agenda 2030 timetable.

He said Greece is contributing, with a consistent strategy and an active presence, to a stronger regional security framework anchored in international law and the law of the sea.

The minehunter talks add to a widening Italy–Greece agenda. Defence and industrial cooperation between the two countries is increasingly seen as a factor in Mediterranean stability, with scope for further work in energy, multimodal logistics, space, rare earths and research.

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.