Macron tells Europe to 'stop being naive' after France signs defence
deal with Greece
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[September 28, 2021] By
John Irish
PARIS (Reuters) - Europe needs to stop
being naive when it comes to defending its interests and build its own
military capacity, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday
after Greece sealed a deal for French frigates worth about 3 billion
euros ($3.51 billion).
France was plunged into an unprecedented diplomatic crisis with the
United States, Australia and Britain earlier this month over a
trilateral nuclear security deal which sank a multi-billion dollar
French-designed submarine contract with Canberra.
That has caused much soul searching in Paris over its traditional
alliances. Speaking for the first time on the issue, Macron on Tuesday
seized the opportunity to urge for more European autonomy as Washington
increasingly reorientates its interests towards China and the
Indo-Pacific.
"The Europeans must stop being naive. When we are under pressure from
powers, which at times harden (their stance) , we need to react and show
that we have the power and capacity to defend ourselves. Not escalating
things, but protecting ourselves," Macron told a news conference with
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
"This isn't an alternative to the United States alliance. It's not a
substitution, but to take responsibility of the European pillar within
NATO and draw the conclusions that we are asked to take care of our own
protection."
Under Tuesday's agreement Athens agreed to buy three frigates with an
option to buy a fourth for about 3 billion euros, a Greek government
source told Reuters.
The accord, part of a broader strategic military and defence cooperation
pact, comes after Athens had already ordered some 24 Dassault-made
Rafale fighter jets this year, making it the first European Union
country to buy the fighter jet.
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French President Emmanuel Macron gives a press conference with Greek
Prime Minister during a signing ceremony of a new defence deal at
The Elysee Palace in Paris, France September 28, 2021. Ludovic
Marin/Pool via REUTERS
"This will tie us for decades," Mitsotakis said. "This opens the door to the
Europe of tomorrow that is strong and autonomous, capable of defending its
interests."
When asked whether this deal risked raising tensions in the eastern
Mediterranean, Macron said the accord did not target a country specifically, but
Greece, as the outer border of the European Union needed to be protected.
"I don't get the feeling that in the summer of 2020 it was Greece that was
bellicose in the eastern Mediterranean," Macron said, alluding to Turkish
actions in the region.
"As Europeans it is our duty to show solidarity with members states. It is
legitimate that we commit to equipping it so it can ensure its territorial
integrity is respected and that we commit to cooperating to protect it in case
of intrusions, attacks or aggressions," he said.
($1 = 0.8537 euros)
(Writing by John Irish; additional reporting by Angeliki Koutantou in Athens.
Mathieu Protard and Sudip Kar-Gupta in Paris; Editing by Timothy Heritage and
Raissa Kasolowsky)
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