Wednesday, October 4, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

Greece to buy French warships in boost for EU defence

by Agence France-Presse
September 28, 2021
in Navy News
3 min read
0
Greece to buy French warships in boost for EU defence

Belh@rra-france-paysage

14
VIEWS

France and Greece on Tuesday signed a multibillion-euro deal for Athens to buy three French warships, in an accord hailed by President Emmanuel Macron as a major boost for the EU’s defence ambitions.

The memorandum of understanding for the purchase of the Belharra frigates was inked less than two weeks after France was left reeling by the cancellation by Australia of a contract to buy French submarines as part of a new defence pact with Britain and the US.

Macron said after meeting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Elysee Palace that Greece would buy the three frigates from France as part of a deeper “strategic partnership” between the two countries to defend their shared interests in the Mediterranean.

The deal marks “an audacious first step towards European strategic autonomy”, Macron said.

He called Athens’ decision to buy the Belharra ships “a sign of confidence” in France’s defence industry, against competition notably from the American group Lockheed Martin, according to press reports.

The deal also sent a clear signal from Paris after its stinging loss this month of a multibillion-euro contract for submarines with Australia, which announced it would instead buy nuclear-powered subs from the US.

“It contributes to European security and the reinforcement of Europe’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty, and therefore to international peace and security,” Macron said.

The French leader has long insisted that Europe needs to develop its own defence capabilities and no longer be so reliant on the United States, even warning that NATO was undergoing “brain death”.

“Today is a historic day for Greece and France. We have decided to upgrade our bilateral defensive cooperation,” Mitsotakis said.

He said the agreement involves “mutual support” and “joint action at all levels,” as well as an option to purchase a fourth frigate.

No financial details were provided on the value of the deal, but the ships are set to be delivered starting in 2024.

The accord did not include the sale of any French Gowind corvettes, a possibility that had been evoked in Greek media reports.

“The construction by France of this state-of-the-art equipment contributes to an ambitious European defence,” said French Defence Minister Florence Parly.

‘Not antagonistic’
Mitsotakis added that the French deal would not affect talks on extending a longstanding defence cooperation agreement between Greece and Washington, despite the tensions sparked between the EU and Washington after the Australia submarines row.

The agreement is “not antagonistic” to the Greek-US relationship, he said, citing how “France stood by us during difficult times in the summer of 2020”, a reference to Turkey’s challenging of Greek territorial rights in the Aegean Sea.

Macron added that the frigate sale was not meant to be seen as a threat against Ankara, but a means to jointly ensure security in the Mediterranean as well as in North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans.

Greece and France had already roused Ankara’s ire in January, when they signed a 2.5-billion-euro ($3 billion) deal for 18 Rafale jets — 12 used and six new — as part of a burgeoning arms programme to counter Turkish ambitions.

Earlier this month, Mitsotakis surprised many observers with plans to buy an additional six Rafale jets, bringing the total order to 24.

“It’s not directed against anyone,” Macron said. “It allows more efficient and coordinated action for peace, cooperation and stability, in an international order founded on the rule of law and the full respect of commitments.”

Macron also vowed that the US-Australia pact would not impact France’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific region, where China has made no secret of its desire to exercise significant military sway.

“We have one million fellow citizens who live in this region, and over 8,000 soldiers deployed there,” Macron said, referring to France’s presence through several overseas territories in the region.

He added, however, that “Europeans must stop being naive” regarding geopolitical competition, while confirming that France’s ambassador to Washington, called home in the wake of the subs crisis, would return on Wednesday.

Tags: francefrigatesgreecewarships
Previous Post

UK warship makes rare transit through Taiwan Strait

Next Post

North Korea fires ‘missile’, insists on right to weapons tests

Related Posts

Russia says fired anti-ship missiles at mock target in Sea of Japan

Russia says fired anti-ship missiles at mock target in Sea of Japan

March 28, 2023

Russia's defence ministry said Tuesday that its navy had fired test anti-ship missiles at mock targets in the Sea of...

China Naval Modernization: Implications for US Navy

Chinese military says ‘warned’ US warship to leave S. China Sea

March 24, 2023

The Chinese military said it warned a US warship to "leave" waters in the disputed South China Sea on Thursday,...

Next Post
North Korea fires ‘missile’, insists on right to weapons tests

North Korea fires 'missile', insists on right to weapons tests

Latest Defense News

First Shipment of New Gepard Ammunition Now on its Way to Ukraine

First Shipment of New Gepard Ammunition Now on its Way to Ukraine

September 6, 2023
China will ‘never commit to abandoning the use of force’ on Taiwan: Xi

China warns against ‘new Cold War’ as big powers meet in SE Asia

September 6, 2023
US sending 3,000 more troops to Poland, as Ukraine tension rises: senior official

Poland to spend over 4% of GDP on defence in 2024

September 6, 2023
North Korea pursues weapons despite Covid blockade: UN report

North Korea to pay ‘price’ if it gives Russia arms: US

September 6, 2023
USAF F-16 fleet undergoing largest modification work in history

Russia says F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine will be seen as ‘nuclear’ threat

July 13, 2023
North Korea says conducted new test of solid-fuel ICBM

North Korea says conducted new test of solid-fuel ICBM

July 13, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • The best strategy to defending Singapore Island
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • Taiwan Navy News and Developments
  • PRC Peoples Liberation Army Navy
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • Nagorniy Karabakh
  • General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Danish Air Force ET-613 arrival RAF Fairford RIAT 2023
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • European Union, member states and Agencies
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com