Greece and Italy sign deal for two FREMM frigates

On September 8, 2026, Greece and Italy finalized a bilateral defense agreement in Rome for the acquisition of two FREMM-class (Bergamini) frigates. The contract, valued at 460 million euros, was signed by representatives from the defense ministries of both nations in the presence of Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto. Key Greek officials, including General Dimitrios Houpis and Vice Admiral Dimitrios Eleftherios Kataras, also attended the ceremony.

This agreement serves as a progression from the Memorandum of Cooperation and Declaration of Intent signed on September 29, 2025, in La Spezia. Minister Crosetto emphasized that the partnership extends beyond military hardware to encompass a shared strategic approach to maritime security in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz. The collaboration aims to safeguard vital energy transit routes, undersea infrastructure, and freedom of navigation, reflecting a long-term political and industrial alliance between the two Mediterranean partners.