- Set to Unify East, West, and South in Strategic Defence Dialogue
- Greece to Host Global Defence Summit with 415+ Exhibitors and 18 National Pavilions
By Sangeeta Saxena
Athens, Greece. 04 May 2025. As the global security environment evolves with rising regional tensions, hybrid threats, and rapid technological disruption, DEFEA 2025 (Defence Exhibition Athens) emerges as a timely and crucial platform for multilateral cooperation and defence innovation. Taking place from 6th to 8th May 2025 at the Metropolitan Expo Centre, Athens, the event is poised to host over 415 exhibitors from 34 countries around the world, along with 18 official national pavilions, solidifying its place as the largest international defence exhibition in Southeastern Europe. Athens will once again become the epicentre of global defence diplomacy and industry engagement as it hosts the much-anticipated edition of DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens at the Metropolitan Expo Centre, the largest and most advanced exhibition venue in Southeastern Europe.
DEFEA 2025 will bring together leading defence stakeholders from Europe, North America, Africa, Central and Eastern Asia, and the Middle East, further reinforcing its role as a crucial platform for fostering international cooperation, driving technological advancements, and promoting defence-linked economic growth. The exhibition will be attended by top-level official delegations, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Armed Forces, Armament Directors, Ambassadors, and other key decision-makers. In parallel, the world’s leading defence and security manufacturers and innovators will be represented by presidents, senior vice presidents, and C-suite executives, ensuring the highest level of strategic interaction and industry engagement.
With each edition growing in scale and significance, DEFEA 2025 is set to become the largest international defence exhibition in Southeastern Europe, reinforcing its reputation as a transformative milestone for the global defence sector. DEFEA 2025 will offer unparalleled networking opportunities, enabling exhibitors and delegates to connect with influential industry leaders, buyers, policymakers, and collaborators before, during, and after the event. A dedicated matchmaking platform integrated into the official website will facilitate structured business meetings and engagements, following the success of DEFEA 2023, which hosted nearly 300 such meetings.
In addition to business interactions, the event will feature panel discussions, strategic briefings, and industry insight sessions led by global defence experts. These forums will explore emerging threats, evolving procurement trends, innovation pathways, and best practices, helping participants align their strategies with future market demands.
Greece’s geostrategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa positions it as a natural hub for defence diplomacy and industrial cooperation. As a trusted NATO and EU member, with longstanding military partnerships across the Mediterranean and Middle East, Greece will offer an ideal setting for investments, agreements, and joint ventures during DEFEA 2025. Backed by decades of defence investment and a robust indigenous industry, Greece will showcase companies with proven track records of international collaboration, many of whom operate globally across land, sea, aerospace, cyber, and dual-use technologies. This regional advantage, coupled with a pro-business environment, will make DEFEA a gateway to multi-regional defence markets.
DEFEA 2025 will be held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, offering exhibitors a prestigious platform to present the latest systems and technologies spanning land, sea, air, cyber, and space. The event’s strategic partner will be the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Materiel Association (SEKPY), representing over 200 certified defence and security companies. DEFEA 2025 will also receive the support of the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Hellenic Aerospace Security & Defence Industries Group (HASDIG), and the Hellenic Association of Space Industries (HASI), ensuring holistic representation of Greece’s defence and space sectors
The exhibition will be organised by ROTA SA at the state-of-the-art Metropolitan Expo Centre, located within Athens International Airport, ensuring world-class infrastructure and accessibility for international participants. As the countdown to DEFEA 2025 begins, the international defence and security community will look to Athens as a powerful meeting point of ideas, innovation, policy, and partnerships. With its broad international participation, high-level decision-maker engagement, and unmatched strategic location, DEFEA will continue to shape the future of defence cooperation and industrial capability on a global scale.
Stay with ADU – Aviation & Defence Universe, the official media partner for DEFEA 2025, for real-time updates, exclusive coverage, and interviews from the frontline of the world’s next big defence gathering. We are already in Athens!
