Greece made a strong impression at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C., held from October 13 to 15, marking a major step in advancing its defense diplomacy and global industrial footprint.
At the center of the event, the Hellenic Pavilion featured 13 leading Greek defense companies presenting cutting-edge innovations in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, aerospace technologies, and cyber defense. The exhibit underscored both Greece’s growing technological capacity and the creative spirit of its engineers and scientists driving modernization across its defense sector.
The national participation was coordinated by Enterprise Greece, together with the Greek Ministry of National Defense and its General Directorate for Defense Investment and Armaments, and received organizational support from the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
Their combined effort reflected a unified national strategy — to promote Greek defense technology abroad, deepen transatlantic partnerships, and demonstrate how innovation is reshaping Greece’s role in regional and global security.
“Greece’s presence at AUSA reflects a shared commitment to innovation, cooperation, and collective defense,” said officials representing the Hellenic delegation.
A strong and enduring Transatlantic partnership
The robust participation of Greek companies at AUSA 2025 comes amid a period of renewed strategic alignment between Athens and Washington. Over the past decade, the two allies have significantly expanded defense cooperation through the US–Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA), enhancing operational coordination, training, and logistics at key installations including Souda Bay, Alexandroupoli, Larissa, and Stefanovikeio.
This growing defense partnership underscores Greece’s importance as a reliable NATO ally and regional stabilizing force in the Eastern Mediterranean — a region critical to energy security, maritime routes, and transatlantic strategy.
U.S. officials have frequently praised Greece’s consistent defense spending, which exceeds NATO’s 2% benchmark, and its active contribution to joint exercises and peacekeeping missions. The relationship continues to evolve beyond traditional defense cooperation, extending into industrial partnerships, energy resilience, and technological innovation.
F-35 Program: A new era of defense cooperation
A key milestone in the US–Greece defense relationship is Athens’ recent decision to join the F-35 Lightning II program, developed by Lockheed Martin. The acquisition marks a transformative step in Greece’s modernization plan and will significantly enhance its airpower capabilities and interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces.
The deal, supported by Washington, is widely viewed as both a strategic and symbolic development — strengthening deterrence in the Eastern Mediterranean and deepening bilateral trust. The introduction of the F-35s will place Greece among a select group of nations equipped with the world’s most advanced stealth fighter aircraft.
“The F-35 represents not just a technological leap, but a statement of shared strategic values and long-term commitment,” noted one U.S. defense official familiar with the program.
The agreement also opens doors for Greek defense industries to participate in high-tech supply chains linked to the F-35 platform, fostering research, engineering cooperation, and new investment opportunities.
Innovation, collaboration, and shared security
The AUSA 2025 exhibition highlighted how Greece’s defense ecosystem is evolving through close collaboration between public institutions, private industry, and international partners.
Greek companies demonstrated systems designed for modern battlefield operations, AI-assisted command platforms, and energy-efficient defense applications, emphasizing both innovation and sustainability.
Beyond technology, the event reaffirmed the enduring strategic partnership between Greece and the United States — one rooted in shared democratic values and a joint vision for peace and stability.
Together, Greece and the US continue to build a stronger, safer, and more technologically advanced future, setting new standards for defense excellence and transatlantic cooperation.
