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Greek Defence Minister Hails India as "Necessary" EU Partner, Backs FTA

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias declared India has evolved from a "nice-to-have" to a "necessary-to-have" strategic and economic partner for Europe. He strongly endorsed the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement, stating it would serve a huge purpose for both the EU and Greece. The statements were made at the inaugural India-EU Forum in New Delhi, which convened over 200 policymakers and experts. The forum focused on translating recent diplomatic progress into actionable cooperation across trade, security, and technology.

Key Points: India "Necessary" Partner for EU, Says Greek Defence Minister

  • India seen as indispensable EU partner
  • Strong support for India-EU FTA
  • Forum aimed at strategic & economic cooperation
  • Over 200 leaders from India & EU participated
2 min read

"India is now necessary to have...": Greek Defence Minister Dendias hails India-EU FTA

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias calls India indispensable for Europe, strongly endorsing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the India-EU Forum.

"Maybe in the past, India was a nice-to-have but not a necessary-to-have. Now India is necessary-to-have. - Nikos Dendias"

New Delhi, February 8

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has said India has become an indispensable partner for Europe, underlining the growing strategic and economic importance of India for the European Union and Greece in particular.

Speaking at the India-EU Forum 2026, Dendias said that perceptions in Europe about India had evolved significantly over time.

"Maybe in the past, India was a nice-to-have but not a necessary-to-have. Now India is necessary-to-have," he said.

Highlighting economic cooperation, the Greek minister expressed strong support for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and India, saying it would deliver substantial benefits.

"The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India, I think, will serve a huge purpose, both for Europe, and individually for Greece as well," Dendias said.

The inaugural India-EU Forum concluded in New Delhi on Saturday after two days of wide-ranging discussions on strengthening cooperation between India and the European Union across trade, security, technology and geopolitical domains.

Organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Ananta Centre, the Track 1.5 Forum was held from February 6 to February 7 and brought together more than 200 senior policymakers, industry leaders, strategic experts and thought leaders from India and EU Member States, the MEA stated in a post on X.

According to the MEA, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the forum's inaugural session on February 6, while Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal participated in a special session the same day.

Meanwhile, Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias addressed a special fireside chat on February 7.

"The inaugural edition of the India-EU Forum was organised by MEA in partnership with Ananta Aspen on 6-7 Feb, 2026. EAM S Jaishankar addressed the inaugural session of the Forum on 6 Feb. CIM Piyush Goyal participated in the Forum in a special session on 6 Feb. The Greek Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, addressed a special fireside chat at the Forum on 7 Feb. The Forum brought together more than 200 policymakers, thought leaders, and policy practitioners from India and Europe, who deliberated on important areas of cooperation between India and Europe," the post read.

The discussions took place at an opportune moment, following the recent India-EU Summit and the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with participants deliberating on ways to translate strategic convergence into actionable outcomes.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting to see a European defence minister speaking so strongly about economic ties. It shows how interconnected security and trade have become. Hope this FTA includes strong provisions for data privacy and digital trade.
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Priya S
Finally, the recognition we deserve! "Necessary to have" – love that phrase. But we must ensure this deal benefits our farmers and small businesses too, not just big corporations. The details matter.
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Rohit P
Good move. Europe needs reliable partners, and India needs technology and investment. Win-win. But let's be cautious and learn from past FTAs. Our negotiators should protect our core interests, especially in agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
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Ananya R
This is positive news for job creation and technology transfer. Greece specifically mentioning benefits shows how India's growth story is attracting even smaller EU nations. Hope it leads to more student exchange programs and easier visas for skilled professionals.
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David E
While the sentiment is good, I hope this isn't just geopolitical posturing due to tensions elsewhere. The real test will be in the implementation and whether European companies truly ease technology sharing. The proof will be in the pudding, as they say.

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