Submarine Deal Looms as NATO Shifts: Greece–France Defense Axis Deepens

Mytilineos: “NATO will never be the same” – Metlen–Naval Group partnership signals new era in European defense

The Hellenic–French Forum revealed a development with far-reaching geopolitical implications: the anticipated partnership between Metlen and Naval Group for the construction of four new submarines for Greece.

This is not merely an arms procurement story. It reflects a broader shift toward European defense autonomy, at a time when the reliability and future orientation of NATO are increasingly questioned.

“NATO will never be the same”

Evangelos Mytilineos delivered one of the forum’s most striking assessments:“NATO is changing form and will never be the same.”

Linking this transformation to the stance of Donald Trump, he added:“It will no longer provide the defense technology and support we were used to.”

The implication is clear: Europe—and countries like Greece—must build independent defense capabilities rather than rely solely on transatlantic guarantees.

 Submarines and industrial transformation

The prospective submarine deal highlights a new model of cooperation:

• Joint production with Greek industrial participation
• Transfer of advanced technology from France
• Strengthening of domestic heavy industry

Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, emphasized Metlen’s credibility in:

• metallurgy
• energy
• large-scale industrial execution

Meanwhile, Mytilineos stressed a key condition:“The new technology must come from the French side.”

At its core, the agreement represents a trade-off between technology transfer and industrial capacity.

The Belharra lesson

Mytilineos also pointed to missed opportunities, noting that Greek industrial involvement in the Belharra frigate program:“Should have started from the very first ship.”

This reflects a long-standing structural issue: Greece’s late integration into high-value defense production chains.

From subcontractors to partners

Christian Hadjiminas highlighted a strategic ambition:

“We must be seen as partners, not subcontractors.”

He referenced collaborations involving Theon, investments in Exosens, and partnerships with Safran.

👉 The broader objective is for Greece to evolve from a defense customer into a co-producer of advanced systems.

Europe under pressure: produce faster

Nicolas Groult of KNDS described a rapidly changing landscape:

“Capacity is lower than demand.”

He stressed the urgent need for:

• faster design cycles
• accelerated production
• “out of the box” thinking

Europe’s defense industry is under strain, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and increased military demand.

The anticipated Metlen–Naval partnership is part of a much larger transformation:

• NATO is evolving under political and strategic pressure
• Europe is moving toward strategic autonomy
• Greece is positioning itself within the core of defense production

If realized, the submarine deal could mark a structural shift: from dependent buyer to active player in Europe’s defense industrial base.

Source: pagenews.gr