Greece’s Deputy Defence Minister Nikos Hardalias met with members of the Joint Standing committee for Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade in Canberra on Monday over a working lunch organised by Steve Georganas.
In attendance were Chair of the Committee, Hon Shayne Neumann, Steve Georganas, Luke Gosling, Maria Vamvakinou, Peter Kahalil, Michael McCormack, Senator David Fawcett, Senator Deb O’Neill,
Greece’s Deputy Defence minister briefed the committee on matters relating to Greece’s’ Military and Defence, the geopolitics of the Aegean and the East Mediterranean and matters relating to Ukraine and NATO.
In a statement to Neos Kosmos about the discussions with Mr Hardalias, Labor MP Steve Georganas said that they explored “Greek and Australian collaboration and strengthening our relationship through cooperation and the possibility of military exchanges between the two nations.”
“It was an honour to arrange a working lunch for the Greek department deputy defence minister with our committee. This was a valuable opportunity to exchange views and ideas and for our committee to be briefed on Greece’s current role in NATO and the EU. We also discussed the current political and economic environment in Greece and Australia and how we can assist and work together,” Mr Georganas stated.
Earlier in the morning the Greek deputy minister met with Australia’s deputy defence minister the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite.
