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PARIS: Greece will purchase three frigates from France as a part of a deeper “strategic partnership” between the 2 international locations to defend their shared pursuits within the Mediterranean, French President Emmanuel Macron stated Tuesday.
The deal marks “an audacious first step in the direction of European strategic autonomy”, Macron stated at a signing ceremony with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the Elysee Palace.
He known as Athens’ choice to purchase the Belharra ships “an indication of confidence” in France’s defence industry, towards competitors notably from the American group Lockheed Martin, in line with press stories.
The deal additionally sends a sign from Paris after its stinging lack of a multibillion-euro contract for submarines with Australia, which introduced it will as a substitute signal a deal for nuclear-powered subs from the US.
Macron has lengthy insisted that Europe must develop its personal defence capabilities and not be so reliant on the USA.
“In the present day is a historic day for Greece and France. We now have determined to improve our bilateral defensive cooperation,” Mitsotakis stated.
He stated the settlement entails “mutual help” and “joint motion in any respect ranges,” although no monetary particulars of the contract got.
Mitsotakis added that the French deal would haven’t have an effect on a defence cooperation settlement beneath dialogue between Greece and the US, regardless of the tensions sparked between the EU and Washington after the Australia submarines row.
The settlement is “not antagonistic” to the Greek-US relationship, he stated, citing how “France stood by us throughout troublesome instances in the summertime of 2020”, a reference to Turkey’s problem of Greek territorial rights within the Aegean Sea.
Macron additionally vowed that the US-Australia pact wouldn’t influence France’s technique for the Indo-Pacific area, the place China has made no secret of its need to train important navy sway.
“We now have a million fellow residents who reside on this area, and over 8,000 troopers deployed there,” Macron stated, referring to France’s presence by means of a number of abroad territories within the area.
He added, nonetheless, that “Europeans should cease being naive” relating to geopolitical competitions, whereas confirming that France’s ambassador to Washington, known as dwelling within the wake of the subs disaster, would return on Wednesday.
The deal marks “an audacious first step in the direction of European strategic autonomy”, Macron stated at a signing ceremony with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the Elysee Palace.
He known as Athens’ choice to purchase the Belharra ships “an indication of confidence” in France’s defence industry, towards competitors notably from the American group Lockheed Martin, in line with press stories.
The deal additionally sends a sign from Paris after its stinging lack of a multibillion-euro contract for submarines with Australia, which introduced it will as a substitute signal a deal for nuclear-powered subs from the US.
Macron has lengthy insisted that Europe must develop its personal defence capabilities and not be so reliant on the USA.
“In the present day is a historic day for Greece and France. We now have determined to improve our bilateral defensive cooperation,” Mitsotakis stated.
He stated the settlement entails “mutual help” and “joint motion in any respect ranges,” although no monetary particulars of the contract got.
Mitsotakis added that the French deal would haven’t have an effect on a defence cooperation settlement beneath dialogue between Greece and the US, regardless of the tensions sparked between the EU and Washington after the Australia submarines row.
The settlement is “not antagonistic” to the Greek-US relationship, he stated, citing how “France stood by us throughout troublesome instances in the summertime of 2020”, a reference to Turkey’s problem of Greek territorial rights within the Aegean Sea.
Macron additionally vowed that the US-Australia pact wouldn’t influence France’s technique for the Indo-Pacific area, the place China has made no secret of its need to train important navy sway.
“We now have a million fellow residents who reside on this area, and over 8,000 troopers deployed there,” Macron stated, referring to France’s presence by means of a number of abroad territories within the area.
He added, nonetheless, that “Europeans should cease being naive” relating to geopolitical competitions, whereas confirming that France’s ambassador to Washington, known as dwelling within the wake of the subs disaster, would return on Wednesday.
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