The Defense Exhibition Athens (DEFEA) is an international defense and security event held at the Metropolitan Expo Center near Athens International Airport. This year’s edition took place from May 6 to 8, bringing together over 340 exhibitors from 28 countries and welcoming official delegations from 68 nations.
Historical Background and Previous Venue
Prior to DEFEA, Greece hosted a significant defense exhibition known as Defendory International, which began in 1975. This event was held at the OLP (Piraeus Port Authority) Exhibition Center in Piraeus and served as a major platform for showcasing defense and security technologies. Defendory International was organized under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense and attracted participants from around the world.
However, following the global financial crisis and Greece’s subsequent economic challenges, Defendory International ceased operations after its last edition in 2008. This left a significant gap in Greece’s presence on the international defense exhibition circuit.
Revival with DEFEA
Recognizing the need to reestablish Greece’s role in the global defense industry, the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense, in collaboration with the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defense Material Association (SEKPY) and organized by ROTA Exhibitions Greece, launched DEFEA. The inaugural DEFEA was initially planned for June 2020 but was postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event marked Greece’s return to hosting major defense exhibitions after more than a decade.
DEFEA has since established itself as a key event in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, providing a platform for international defense and security companies to showcase their latest technologies and for fostering collaborations among industry professionals.
