The deal comes as a relief to France after the Aukus fallout and against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with Turkey
Greece has signed a U.S. $ 5 billion deal with France to buy 6 French-built warships accompanied by a strategic defence partnership towards setting-up European defence autonomy.
The deal was announced by the Prime Minister of Greece – Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his meeting with the President of France – Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.
As per the deal, Greece will get 3 state-of-the-art Belharra frigates and 3 Gowind corvettes, with an option for one more of each. The first frigate would be delivered in 2024 and all the remaining friagtes would be delivered by 2026.
Announcing the deal, Mitsotakis said, “We have a common vision of an autonomous response capability to the challenges Europe faces.”
Speaking on the occasion, Macron said, “We have a commitment to the independence of Europe. This is part of the common struggles we have undertaken in Europe – technological independence, a European defence, and combat-readiness.”
Taking it to twitter, Macron tweeted (translated in English), “With Greece, today we are entering into a strategic cooperation partnership in the field of defense and security. It strengthens our collective security, our strategic autonomy and our European sovereignty.” Original tweet in French:
Avec la Grèce, nous actons aujourd’hui un partenariat stratégique de coopération en matière de défense et de sécurité. Il vient renforcer notre sécurité collective, notre autonomie stratégique et notre souveraineté européenne. pic.twitter.com/YSkaK4YkZ6
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 28, 2021
He further tweeted (translated in English), “Concrete translation: the decision by Greece to acquire Rafale fighter jets and 3 frigates which will be built in France, in Lorient! As much testimony of confidence and demonstration of the quality of the French offer.” Original tweet in French:
Traduction concrète : la décision par la Grèce de se doter d’avions de combat Rafale et de 3 frégates qui seront construites en France, à Lorient ! Autant de témoignage de confiance et de démonstration de la qualité de l’offre française. https://t.co/3RB5LA7RUC
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 28, 2021
France based Naval Group and United States (U.S.) based defence contractor Lockheed Martin had been locked in heated competition for the contract since Mitsotakis announced Greece would buy new frigates in September 2019.
This new deal gives a new high to France as Macron was upset after Australia recently cancelled the U.S. $ 66 billion deal to buy French diesel submarines and entered into Aukus Partnership with U.S. and United Kingdom (U.K.).
Macron stressed that the Greek deal reinforced his vision of European strategic autonomy. Also, both the leaders identified Sahel, Middle East, Mediterranean and Balkans as areas of European interest where joint military action could take place.
Greece and France have been drawing closer in recent years, against the backdrop of their deteriorating relations with Turkey. Last year, Greece and Turkey came to the brink of war when Ankara sent survey ships to look for undersea oil and gas in what Greece considers its maritime jurisdiction. France sent naval forces to help Greece’s ageing fleet of 11 frigates to patrol its maritime zones.
