Greece Raises Its Flag on New Frigate Nearchos in France

Greece takes formal control of the Nearchos on Friday. Defence Minister Nikos Dendias attends the flag ceremony for the new frigate in France.

The Nearchos is the second of four French-built FDI frigates that Athens has ordered. Greece’s defence ministry said the ceremony marks the ship’s official entry into the Hellenic Navy.

Nearchos joins the Hellenic Navy

The ceremony takes place at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, in western France. According to local newspaper Le Télégramme, it starts at 1.30pm local time.

Dendias and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin both speak. Then the Greek flag goes up on the Nearchos as the Greek national anthem plays. The Greek crew boards the ship, and the two ministers tour it.

Read more: Greece Sets Flag-Raising Date for Third Belharra Frigate Formion

Before the ceremony, Dendias holds talks with Vautrin at 12.30pm local time. The ministry said they will discuss defence cooperation as well as regional and wider European security issues.

Both ministers plan to discuss how to deepen the strategic relationship between Greece and France. They will then speak to the press together.

According to the ministry, the talks also focus on putting existing agreements into practice. Defence industry cooperation is on the agenda too.

Four new frigates for Greece

The first ship in the class, the Kimon, reached Greece in January. It has drawn big crowds in Thessaloniki.

After the flag ceremony, crews will load the Nearchos with its full set of weapons. The frigate then heads for the main Greek naval base at Salamis, near Athens.

A third frigate, the Formion, is due to arrive before the end of the year. The fourth and final ship, the Themistoklis, should follow in 2028.

These frigates form part of a multi-billion euro defence spending drive by Athens. That plan also covers warplanes, drones and a new air defence shield. French shipbuilder Naval Group builds the FDI class.

For Dendias, the trip is the latest sign of close defence ties with Paris. Vautrin joined him on board the Kimon at Salamis in January.

Source: Kathimerini

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