Touched but not sunk.

A few days after the cancellation of a huge contract for the sale of submarines to Australia, the French military industry is consoling itself.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed a military contract for Athens to order three Belharra frigates, plus one as an option.

The three ships will be built by Naval Group, in Lorient (Morbihan) and will be invoiced "several billion euros".

The announcement comes after the cancellation of a huge 55 billion euro contract for submarines by Australia, which preferred a strategic partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom.

This new contract was signed as part of the strengthening of the "strategic partnership" between France and Greece, according to Emmanuel Macron, who sees it as "a testimony of confidence and demonstration of the quality of the French offer".

A "daring first step towards European strategic autonomy"

Greece's booming arms program aims to counter Turkish provocations in the eastern Mediterranean, against which France is one of the few EU countries to have publicly protested in recent months.

The French president also underlined that this strengthened partnership represents a “first daring step towards European strategic autonomy”, a topic which he tries to carry in the face of the evolution of American foreign policy which refocuses its strategic priorities on China.

Earlier this month, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had already announced the surprise purchase of six French Rafale fighters, in addition to a previous contract at 2.5 billion euros, signed in January, for 12 used Rafale and six new.

World

Submarine crisis: Macron wants the Europeans to come out of "naivety" and be "respected" by the United States

World

Submarine crisis: Johnson and Macron agree to "work closely together", according to Downing Street

  • Lorient

  • Australia

  • Submarine

  • Defense

  • Athens

  • Shipyard

  • Industry

  • Military

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • Greece