In a move that fundamentally shifts the security architecture of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, the Defence Ministers of India and Greece convened in New Delhi to operationalise a new era of co-production and maritime synergy
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, concluded a high-stakes summit in New Delhi aimed at transforming a historical friendship into a modern military alliance. The meeting marks the most significant follow-up to the 2023 Strategic Partnership declaration, occurring at a moment when both nations are seeking to secure critical trade routes amidst shifting global loyalties. The primary outcome is a roadmap for the co-development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a pact for regular naval deployments in the Mediterranean Sea.
Also Read: India’s Budget 2026-27: A Defensive Pivot in an Era of Managed Disorder
Strategic Synergy in Drone Warfare and Co-Production
The centrepiece of the New Delhi meet is a joint venture between Indian private sector giants and Greek aerospace firms to manufacture tactical drones. Greece, facing persistent maritime boundary challenges, and India, dealing with diverse terrain threats, have identified UAV technology as a shared priority. This partnership moves beyond a simple buyer-seller relationship, aiming to create a production hub that serves the wider European and Middle Eastern markets. This industrial collaboration is designed to reduce dependence on non-aligned suppliers and consolidate Mediterranean security through indigenous technological superiority.
Greece as the Gateway for the IMEC Corridor
A critical driver of this defence engagement is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Greece has positioned Piraeus as the primary European entry point for this trade route, making the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean a vital national interest for India. By strengthening defence ties, New Delhi is effectively providing a security layer to its future trade interests. The two ministers discussed the protection of undersea cables and energy pipelines, acknowledging that economic prosperity in the 21st century is inseparable from robust maritime defence and Mediterranean security.
Naval Interoperability and the Indo-Pacific Bridge
The summit solidified plans for the Indian Navy to increase its footprint in the Mediterranean, including more frequent dockings at Greek naval bases like Souda Bay. Conversely, Greek naval officers will now take part in India’s MILAN exercises and the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). This cross-pollination of naval intelligence is a direct response to the rise of grey-zone warfare and piracy. By linking the security of the Aegean Sea with the stability of the Indian Ocean, both nations are creating a trans-regional security bridge that bypasses traditional bloc politics.
Countering Radicalisation and Hybrid Threats
Beyond hardware and patrols, the ministers addressed the growing threat of hybrid warfare and radicalisation affecting both regions. A new joint working group on cyber defence and counter-terrorism was established to share real-time intelligence on non-state actors operating in the peripheries of Europe and South Asia. This pillar of the partnership acknowledges that modern Mediterranean security is threatened as much by digital disinformation and extremist networks as it is by conventional naval skirmishes.
Also Read: India-US Trade Breakthrough: The End of the ‘Russian Oil’ Era
The Hinge Point
The 9 February 2026 meeting is the exact moment where India formally establishes its role as a Mediterranean security stakeholder. This is the hinge point because it marks the transition of India’s “Extended Neighbourhood” policy from a diplomatic concept to a military reality. The story changes here because Greece is no longer just a Mediterranean tourism hub for India; it has become a strategic anchor that allows New Delhi to project power and protect its economic lifelines at the doorstep of Europe.
What can no longer remain the same is the perception of Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific security as two separate silos. By integrating drone co-production and naval intelligence, India and Greece have acknowledged that a disruption in the Aegean is a disruption in the Arabian Sea. This marks the end of India’s strategic hesitation in European waters and the beginning of a “Double Anchor” strategy, one in the Indian Ocean and one in the Mediterranean—to safeguard the future of global trade.