Greece and France signed on Monday a 2.3 billion euro deal for the purchase of 18 Rafale fighter jets, as tensions with Turkey remain high. Florence Parly, the French defense minister, signed the agreement in Athens to deliver 12 used and six new aircraft built by Dassault Aviation over two years, starting in July.
Υπογραφή στην Αθήνα του συμβολαίου πώλησης 18 #Rafale στην Ελλάδα 🇬🇷από τη @HellenicGDDIA, το @Hellenic_MOD και τις γαλλικές🇫🇷 εταιρείες @Dassault_OnAir @byMBDA @SAFRAN @thalesgroup @Armees_Gouv pic.twitter.com/fblHKP0oQx
— La France en Grèce (@FranceenGrece) January 25, 2021
France has sided with Greece in a dispute over boundaries in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean that has brought NATO members Greece and Turkey to the brink of war several times in recent decades.
In statements, Parly stressed the importance of defense and military cooperation between Greece and France and said that this will be further strengthened by holding joint exercises in 2021.
At the beginning of next month, a joint exercise called “Skyros” will be held, in which for the first time 4 Rafale will co-train with Greek fighter jets.
Also, as previously announced by the French Minister, the joint air exercise “Iniohos” will be held with the participation of France, the United States, the United Arab Emirates. Greece and Israel in April.
Referring to the acquisition of the 18 Rafale, Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos stressed that the power of the Greek Air Force is multiplying.
sources: ap, cnngreece, onalert
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2.3 Billionen € for fighter jets, but the streets are pot holed, lot of traffic lights broken, to less or no garbage bin in the streets, parks run down and desolate, retired people looking for food in the garbage, public hospitals miss equipment like ultrasound due to theft or lack of money for repairs….