Dendias made the announcement while visiting the French frigate Alsace alongside his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, who is on an official visit to Athens.
Athens is aiming for the new FDI frigate to be equipped with strategic weaponry—notably SCALP Naval cruise missiles—and to be integrated into a new strategic deterrence doctrine that envisions a modernized fleet of 16 surface vessels.
Υποδέχθηκα σήμερα στο Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας, τον Γάλλο Ομόλογό μου, κ. Sébastien Lecornu @SebLecornu.
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) April 14, 2025
Στην κατ’ ιδίαν συνάντηση η οποία έγινε σε εγκάρδιο κλίμα, καθώς και στις διευρυμένες συνομιλίες των δύο αντιπροσωπειών, επιβεβαιώθηκαν, στο πλαίσιο της ελληνο-γαλλικής… pic.twitter.com/y6zG7WpfGh
Contract Signed for 16 Exocet Missiles
Earlier today, Dendias and Lecornu signed a contract for the purchase of 16 Exocet anti-ship missiles. The Greek minister described the meeting as sincere and rooted in the shared values of France and Greece.
He reiterated that the two countries remain close allies, referencing the landmark 2021 bilateral defense agreement as a cornerstone of their strategic partnership.
“Greece is confident that France will always consider Greece’s security needs and our country’s imperative to maintain a technological edge over revisionist threats,” Dendias said.
The acquisition of the 16 French Exocet missiles is seen as a counterbalance to reports of Turkish interest in acquiring Meteor missiles.
High-Level Bilateral Talks
On Holy Monday, French Defense Minister Lecornu visited the Greek Ministry of National Defense and held a private meeting with Dendias, where they discussed bilateral defense cooperation and the missile deal.
At noon, Lecornu proceeded to the Maximos Mansion for a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, amid a critical geopolitical moment in the Eastern Mediterranean and intensified diplomatic coordination among Brussels, Paris, and Berlin, focusing on a common European defense policy.
A Fourth Frigate on the Table
It is worth noting that the F-601 “Kimon”, the third Greek Belharra frigate, is expected to arrive in Greece soon. Meanwhile, the possibility of acquiring a fourth FDI frigate, this time equipped with SCALP Naval missiles, remains on the negotiating table.
Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum, Dendias underscored Greece’s financial limitations:
“We are not rich. We therefore must measure and negotiate very carefully. And we expect our friends, both countries and companies, to assist us in this.”
His statement was widely interpreted as a diplomatic nudge toward France for improved pricing or terms on the fourth frigate acquisition.
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