French Defence Minister Florence Parly and her Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos
Jan 25, 2021. Greece.
France will put in proposals to supply new frigates to Greece, which is building up its armed forces during a period of tension with its neighbour and NATO partner, the French defence minister said on Monday.
Florence Parly was speaking at a joint news conference with
her Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos in Athens after the two finalized a
2.5 billion euros ($3 billion) agreement for the purchase of 18 Dassault-made
Rafale fighter jets by Greece.
"Greece is becoming the first European country to acquire
this type of fighter jet," Parly told reporters. "France will soon
offer to Greece proposals to renew its fleet of frigates."
The deal for six new and 12 used Rafale jets was announced
hours after a new round of talks between Greece and Turkey over disputed
territorial waters ended in Istanbul.
The first deliveries of the advanced French warplanes are
expected in July amid a flurry of procurement moves by the conservative
government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after years of shrunken
budgets during the financial crisis.
Greece, which last year accused Turkey of "imperial
fantasies" in the region, also wants to buy four new frigates, helicopters
and drones, upgrade its existing fleet of F-16 jets and purchase torpedoes and
missiles to boost its armed forces.
It has promised to recruit 15,000 military personnel over the
next four years, revamp its defence industry and this month approved a $1.68
billion flight training deal with Israel, the largest ever procurement deal
between the two countries.
Greek and Turkey, longstanding rivals that are also both
members of the NATO alliance, came close to war last year after two naval
vessels collided in the eastern Mediterranean. While tensions have eased since,
suspicions on both sides remain high.
On Monday, exploratory talks aimed at laying the groundwork
for possible future negotiations to resolve territorial differences ended after
a few hours when they resumed in Istanbul following a five-year hiatus.
Another meeting is expected in Athens, a Greek government
official said, without giving a date.
[Reuters]
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