France to provide Greece with three warships under defence deal

28 September 2021, 12:14

The Greek and French leaders
France Greece. Picture: PA

The deal was said to be worth several billion euro, amid rising tensions between Greece and Turkey.

France and Greece have announced a multibillion-euro defence deal, which will include the purchase of three French warships by the government in Athens.

French president Emmanuel Macron and Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a defence and security strategic partnership in a joint news conference in Paris.

“This partnership expresses our will to increase and intensify our cooperation … based on our mutual interests,” Mr Macron said.

France Greece
French president Emmanuel Macron (AP)

Greece will purchase three French frigates to be build by Naval Group in Lorient, in western France, Mr Macron said.

The deal includes an option for the acquisition of a fourth frigate, Mr Mitsotakis added.

The announcement comes at a key time for France after the loss this month of a 56 billion euro (£48 billion) deal to sell diesel-electric submarines to Australia, which instead chose to acquire nuclear-powered submarines provided by the US.

The two leaders
The two leaders meet at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AP)

The three-way strategic defence alliance announced by Australia, the UK and the US came as a shock to French officials.

Greece has already bought 18 French Rafale fighter jets and plans to purchase another six under a programme to modernise its armed forces amid tensions with neighbouring Turkey.

Mr Macron and Mr Mitsotakis did not disclose further details of the deal. A top French official said the deal was worth “several billion” euro.

Greek PM
Mr Mitsotakis delivers his speech after signing a deal to buy three French warships (AP)

Tensions between Greece and its historic regional rival Turkey have increased in recent years over gas exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean and waters between the two countries.

Greece had announced plans to upgrade its fleet, discussing potential frigate purchases with countries including France, the US and UK.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Australia Cyber Safety

Google, Meta and others face questions in Australia over cyber extremism threats

United Nations Nuclear Weapons

US and Japan seek UN resolution banning nuclear weapons in outer space

Election 2024 Trump

‘Impossible’ for Trump to post civil fraud bond of £356m, say lawyers

Georgia Election Indictment Lawmakers

Trump seeks to appeal against decision not to disqualify DA in Georgia case

Mike Lynch court case

Fallen tech star Mike Lynch painted as fraud mastermind in Hewlett-Packard trial

Russia Crimea

Putin extends rule in Russian election after harshest crackdown since Soviet era

Vacationing Mom Toddler Death

Ohio woman given life after child died when she left her alone to go on holiday

Transgender Athletes Ban New York Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner backs New York county’s ban on transgender female athletes

A Mayor Eric Adams standing on a stage in front of an audience engaging them with a speech

New York mayor Eric Adams accused of sexually assaulting woman in 1993

Biden Netanyahu

Netanyahu agrees to send officials to US to discuss prospective Rafah operation

Palestinians rush to collect the humanitarian aid airdropped into Gaza City, Gaza Strip on March 17 (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

‘Famine imminent’ in northern Gaza as 70% face ‘catastrophic hunger’

Music-Country Hall of Fame

James Burton, John Anderson and Toby Keith join Country Music Hall of Fame

Russia Election

What the Russian election reveals about Putin’s rule

Obit-Stafford

Astronaut Thomas Stafford, commander of Apollo 10, dies aged 93

Montenegro US

US envoy visits Montenegro to support EU bid as war in Ukraine rages on

APTOPIX Haiti Violence

At least 12 killed as gangs unleash fresh attacks in Haiti’s capital