Original title: France and Greece promote defense cooperation Macron said it will help strengthen European strategic autonomy
China News Agency, Paris, September 28 (Reporter Li Yang) France and Greece are advancing defense and security cooperation. French President Macron said on the 28th local time that the relevant cooperation between the two countries will help strengthen European strategic autonomy.
Macron signed a memorandum of understanding on defense and security cooperation with the Greek Prime Minister Mizotakis who visited Paris on the same day. The main content involved France’s sale of three frigates to Greece. The final contract will be signed within 3 months and the contract value is expected to be 3 billion euros.
The French Ministry of Defense stated that France plans to deliver the frigates ordered by Greece from 2025 to 2026. The contractor of the frigates is the French military ship manufacturer “Navy Group.” Greece can choose to purchase a fourth frigate from France. Macron said that the signing of the relevant memorandum is “a sign of trust in the quality of French production.”
Macron said at a joint conference attended with Mizotakis that the relevant cooperation between France and Greece will help strengthen European strategic autonomy and contribute to international peace and security. He pointed out that Europeans must “stop being naive”; we need to react to show that we “have the ability to protect ourselves.”
Mizotakis also stated that Greece and France are jointly taking the first step towards promoting European strategic autonomy. He also believes that the two countries “have established a very strong alliance, which basically exceeds each other’s obligations within the scope of the EU and NATO.” Analysts generally believe that France is seeking to establish a deeper partnership with Greece.
Macron also made the first public comment on Australia’s cancellation of its submarine contract with France, arguing that the impact of Australia’s cancellation of the contract on France is relatively limited. He also said that the relevant Australian decision will not change France’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia decided in 2016 that the “Navy Group” would build its submarine fleet to replace its long-serving submarine. However, as Australia and the United States reached a nuclear submarine cooperation agreement, Australia no longer needs French-built conventional submarines, and Australia cancelled its cooperation with France. Submarine contract. The value of the contract amounts to 90 billion Australian dollars (56 billion euros). (over)Return to Sohu to see more
Editor:
Disclaimer: The opinions of this article only represent the author himself. Sohu is an information publishing platform. Sohu only provides information storage space services.
.
