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France and Greece sign new arms deal: "Enough of Europe's naivety"

The two countries continue to tighten relations, and Paris will sell 3 battleships to Athens.

Macron said the agreement was part of the union's need not to rely on others to defend it - following the crisis with the US, UK and Australia. "Europeans must stop being naive"

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• France

• Emanuel Macron

• Greece

• United States

Reuters

Tuesday, 28 September 2021, 19:09

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In the video: Anthony Blinken talks about the submarine deal with Australia (Photo: Reuters)

France today (Tuesday) signed a deal with Greece to sell three billion-euro French battleships, and President Emanuel Macron said Europe should stop being "naive" when it comes to defending its interests and building its military capabilities.

This was Macron's first reference to the unprecedented diplomatic crisis that erupted earlier this month with the United States, Australia and Britain, which signed a security alliance that put an end to a multi-billion euro deal from France to Australia. In response, Paris returned its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra and began mental arithmetic on the understanding that the United States is now focusing on halting China and the Indo-Pacific region.

"Europeans must stop being naive. When we are under pressure from the superpowers, which sometimes harden positions, we must respond and show that we have the power and ability to defend ourselves. Not to escalate things, but to defend ourselves," Macron told a news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsutakis. , In the Elysee Palace.

According to the French president, "This is not an alternative to an alliance with the United States. It is not a substitute, but accepting responsibility from the European bloc within NATO and drawing the conclusion that we must take care of our defense."

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Anger over sale of submarines to Australia.

Macron next to Greek Prime Minister Elysee, today (Photo: Reuters)

A Greek government source said that under the agreement, Athens would purchase three battleships with an option for a fourth ship, costing three billion Europeans. The deal, which is part of a broader strategic and security cooperation agreement, was signed after Greece had already ordered 24 Raphael fighter jets this year, making it the first European country to be equipped with French planes.

"It will be with us for decades," the Greek prime minister said. "It is a door opener for a stronger and more autonomous Europe in the future, capable of defending its interests."

Asked if the agreement could exacerbate tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, Macron replied that he was not targeting any specific country, but that Greece, which serves as the EU's border, needed protection.

"I do not believe that Greece was the aggressive side in the eastern Mediterranean in the summer of 2020," Macron stressed, alluding to Turkey's steps in the region.

"As Europeans, it is our duty to show solidarity with the member states. It is legitimate that we be committed to equipping it so that it can ensure that its territorial integrity is respected and that we are committed to cooperating to protect it in the event of intrusion into its territory."

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