ATHENS – Greek government sources announced Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Greece next week to extend their bilateral defense partnership amid ongoing tensions in Iran.
The two NATO member nations originally established their security and defense partnership in 2021, creating mutual aid obligations in case of attack and facilitating Athens’ acquisition of three French frigates and approximately 24 Rafale fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault.
According to an unnamed government official, Macron’s April 24-25 trip to Greece will extend their defense cooperation for an additional five-year period, with provisions for automatic extensions going forward.
The French president and Greek leadership are also expected to address maritime security concerns and developments in the Strait of Hormuz during their discussions, the source indicated.
Naval traffic through the Strait of Hormuz came to a halt Sunday following Iran’s renewed assertion of authority over the critical shipping route, occurring just before a tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States is scheduled to end.
While Greece commands the European Union’s Red Sea naval protection mission for commercial vessels, Athens has maintained its opposition to participating in any military actions within the Strait of Hormuz region.
