Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met today at the Maison Maximou with the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrain.

During the meeting, they discussed the mutual will to strengthen and deepen Greek-French defence cooperation, as well as the renewal in the coming period of the bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreement on defence and security cooperation.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of synergies between the defence industries of the two countries.

At the opening of the meeting, the Prime Minister made the following statement:

Madam Minister, I would like to warmly welcome you to Athens.

The partnership with France is one of the closest we have in a variety of areas. In the field of defence and security, we have built a very deep bilateral strategic partnership.

The delivery of the first Belh@rra frigate, the FDI “Kimon”, a few days ago, which you have already visited, demonstrates the dynamism and effectiveness of this partnership.

Your visit takes on even greater significance in a very complex international environment, which is changing at a dizzying pace and puts an end to several certainties.

Currently, I am well aware that we are working together to renew the 2021 bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreement on cooperation in the fields of defense and security. I have asked the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense to make every effort to complete the new agreement as soon as possible.

I hope to sign it with President Macron, probably in the coming months.

So, again, welcome to Athens. We are very happy to welcome you.

See photos