On the occasion of the delivery of six Rafale aircraft purchased last year from France, an official ceremony took place this Wednesday at midday at an air base located 40 kilometers from Athens.
With our correspondent in Athens, Joel Bronner
It was under a cloudy sky that a handful of French-made planes paraded through the air before reaching the military base of Tanagra, on the outskirts of the Greek capital. A few minutes later, in a speech broadcast live on television, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took the floor on the same basis to welcome the arrival of these six combat aircraft, whose deterrent capabilities he praised.
“ The new Rafale aircraft that have just landed here today are now ready to take off to foster a better and more peaceful environment throughout the region in the future. (…) Moreover, and I keep repeating it with the same determination: our country strives to close the door in the face of various threats, while at the same time leaving open the window of dialogue “, welcomed the Prime Minister.
Proximity to Paris
The recurring tensions with the Turkish neighbour, in particular on the question of gas in the Mediterranean eastern and maritime borders between the two countries, also pushed Greece to order last year three frigates, again to France. Military purchases and a proximity to Paris that Athens considers a sign of a more autonomous European defense.
These six combat aircraft produced by Dassault Aviation are part of a purchase of 24 devices in total. A contract estimated for the Greek air force at more than 3 billion euros.