Paris: Europe needs to stop naively when it comes to maintaining its own interests and building its own military capacity, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday after Greece sealed an agreement for French frigates worth around 3 billion euros ($ 3.51 billion).
France plunged into an unprecedented diplomatic crisis with the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom earlier this month on the trilateral nuclear security agreement which sank the submarine contract designed by the Canberra Multi-billion dollars with Canberra.
It has caused many souls to find in Paris for its traditional flags.
Speaking for the first time on this problem, Macron on Tuesday seized the opportunity to urge more European autonomy when Washington is increasingly memory of its interests to China and the Indo-Pacific.
“Europeans must stop naive.
When we are under pressure from strength, sometimes hardened (their attitude), we need to react and show that we have the strength and capacity to defend themselves.
Do not increase things, but Protect ourselves, but protect ourselves, but protect ourselves, but protect ourselves, but protect ourselves.
“Macron said at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“This is not an alternative to the United States Alliance.
This is not substitution, but to be responsible for the European pillars in NATO and draw conclusions that we are asked to take care of our own protection.” Under the Agreement on Tuesday Athena agreed to buy three fregats with the option to buy the fourth with around 3 billion euros, a Greek government source told Reuters.
The agreement, part of a wider military and defense cooperation pact, appeared after Athena had ordered a few 24 Jet Rafale Fighter Danceult this year, making it the first European Union to buy combat jets.
“This will tie us for decades,” Mitsotakis said.
“It opens the door to Europe tomorrow strong and autonomous, able to maintain their interests.” When asked whether this agreement risked increasing tensions in eastern Mediterranean, Macron said the agreement did not target a country specifically, but Greece, when the European Union’s border needs to be protected.
“I did not feel that in the summer of 2020 Greece was bellicose in the eastern Mediterranean,” Macron said, offending Turkish actions in the region.
“As a European person is our duty to show solidarity with member countries.
It is legitimate that we are committed to equalizing it so that it can ensure territorial integrity is respected and that we are committed to working together to protect it if there is intrusion, attack or aggression.” He said.