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Teaser – DEFEA 2025: Athens to Host a Strategic Hub for Global Defense This May.
At the AUSA 2024 exhibition held in October in Washington D.C., Army Recognition interviewed Vassilis Barkas, Event Director of DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens. During this exchange, Mr. Barkas presented the main features of the upcoming 2025 edition of DEFEA, its strategic positioning, international scope, and objectives. Scheduled from May 6 to 8, 2025, in Athens, DEFEA aims to bring together key stakeholders from the global defense industry in a setting that fosters cooperation, innovation, and dialogue at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The 2025 edition will include no fewer than 150 Greek exhibitors, reflecting the Greek government’s intent to reinforce its national defense industrial base (Picture source: DEFEA)
DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens 2025 will be held at the Metropolitan Expo exhibition center, located near Athens International Airport. The previous edition, held in 2023, already marked a turning point with the participation of 23,413 professional visitors from 91 countries, 346 exhibitors from 30 nations, and high-level official delegations. According to Vassilis Barkas, the 2025 edition is expected to go even further, with more than 25,000 attendees and over 300 official delegations invited.
In the interview, the Event Director emphasized DEFEA’s dual role: serving both as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge defense technologies and as a meeting point for industry representatives, government delegations, European institutions, and regional actors. The exhibition will cover land, naval, air, cyber, and homeland security domains, with a rich agenda that includes live demonstrations, international panels, contract signings, and product unveilings.
Mr. Barkas also highlighted Greece’s growing role in Euro-Mediterranean security dynamics. As an active member of NATO and the European Union, Greece positions DEFEA as a regional hub linking Europe with the Middle East and Africa. This geographic advantage gives the exhibition strong appeal for decision-makers and companies looking to develop partnerships in emerging markets.
The 2025 edition will include no fewer than 150 Greek exhibitors, reflecting the Greek government’s intent to reinforce its national defense industrial base. The Ministry of Defence and the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) are directly involved in the organization, with a clear objective: to showcase national capabilities and align them with opportunities offered by European programs such as the European Defence Agency (EDA), the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), the European Defence Fund (EDF), and NATO’s DIANA initiative.
Among the major developments announced at AUSA, the Hellenic Center for Defence Innovation (HCDI) – recently established – will be introduced for the first time to an international audience. The center is designed to promote dual-use technologies and foster innovation in both civilian and military sectors. DEFEA 2025 will also provide an advanced matchmaking platform supporting B2B, B2G, and G2G meetings, facilitating high-value partnerships between public and private stakeholders.
Organizers are also preparing 16 national pavilions, with strong participation expected from European, American, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. The stated objective is to establish DEFEA not only as a key regional exhibition but also as a global reference event alongside major defense shows such as Eurosatory and DSEI.
The interview with Vassilis Barkas conducted at AUSA 2024 offers clear insight into the ambitions driving DEFEA 2025. More than just a defense exhibition, DEFEA positions itself as an international platform for strategic cooperation, technological exchange, and innovation. Taking place in the heart of the Mediterranean, DEFEA 2025 reflects Greece’s commitment to strengthening its defense ecosystem and supporting its national industry. As DEFEA’s official media partner, Army Recognition will provide full coverage of the event. The video below offers a first look at this key event scheduled for May.