On Sunday, Nov. 2, 2026, Saudi Arabia’s Chief of the General Staff, General Fayyad Al‑Ruwaili, conferred the King Abdulaziz Medal (Excellent Class) on Hellenic National Defence Chief General Dimitrios Choupis in Riyadh, marking a symbolic gesture of friendship between the two nations, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The ceremony fell under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al‑Saud and followed a meeting that reviewed aspects of defence and military cooperation between the two friendly countries. Senior officers and officials from both sides attended the meeting and the medal presentation, SPA reported.
The award was presented in recognition of Choupis’s outstanding efforts to strengthen bonds of friendship, enhance bilateral cooperation, and develop Saudi‑Greek relations, the SPA noted.
The event underlined the growing collaboration in intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and technology exchange, and emphasizes the importance Saudi Arabia places on strengthening ties with Greece, SPA said.
The King Abdulaziz Medal, awarded in its Excellent Class, is a symbol of the highest honours within Saudi military decorations, reflecting the level of cooperation demonstrated during the meeting, the SPA added.
During the meeting, the generals discussed ways to strengthen and develop defence cooperation further, deliberating on mutual interests shared by Saudi Arabia and Greece, SPA noted.
The awarding of the medal to the Greek defence chief underscores the significance of the bilateral strong diplomatic and military relationship, as captured by the SPA.
