US sells 4 warships to Greece, France is cornered again?

WASHINGTON – United States of America (The US) has approved a massive arms sale to Greece, including four new warships and a major modernization package worth up to $9.4 billion. This move could potentially invalidate a similar initial agreement between French with Greece.

If Athens cancels the deal to buy the Paris warships, it would repeat Australia, after forming the AUKUS pact with the US and UK, which had scrapped a deal to buy French diesel-electric submarines. Paris has been angered by Canberra’s move and feels stabbed in the back by Australia and the US.

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The US State Department said it approved a potential deal on Friday, announcing the offer of several Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) vessels in addition to a separate $2.5 billion plan to modernize Greece’s MEKO-class frigates.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security goals of the United States by helping to enhance the security of NATO allies, who are important partners for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. Russia Today, Saturday (11/12/2021).

If implemented, the scheme to upgrade the Greek frigate fleet would include the installation of a number of new systems, such as a new five-inch artillery gun and upgraded sonar. Arms dealers Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, VSE Corporation and UK’s BAE Systems will act as prime contractors.

The announced proposals come after France said in September 2021 that it had reached a similar agreement with Greece to provide up to four new frigates worth about $3.4 billion (€3 billion). However, at the time, French military spokesman Herve Grandjean said that while several commitments had been made, no formal contract had yet been signed between the two sides.

Grandjean added at the time that the deal would be finalized after a three-month period, a deadline set to mature in the coming weeks.

While it is not clear what the US proposal means for a Greek deal with France, the move could be interpreted as a major insult by Washington to Paris.

Two weeks after the furore over the formation of the AUKUS pact, French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the sale of a French warship to Athens, saying it was time to “stop being naive” while touting the deal as a sign of Europe’s “strategic autonomy and sovereignty.” .”

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