The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, met today, Friday 30 October 2026, with the Minister of the Armed Forces of France, Catherine Vautrin, in Lorient. The meeting was held prior to the ceremony for the raising of the Greek flag over the second Greek FDI HN (Belharra) class Frigate “NEARCHOS”.

Upon Mr. Dendias’s arrival at Lorient, he was officially received by the Minister of the Armed Forces of France.

There followed a private discussion between the two Defence Ministers, wherein they discussed the further deepening of the strategic defence partnership of Greece and France, as well as matters of regional and European security. Particular emphasis was put on the implementation of existing agreements, on the partnership in the area of the defence industry, and on the coordination of the two countries in addressing modern security challenges.

Also, Mr. Dendias briefly met the Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic to Lebanon and Former Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Subsequently, the two Ministers went to the facilities of Naval Group to attend the raising of the Greek flag over the Greek FDI HN (Belharra) class Frigate “Nearchos”.

Mr. Dendias, in his joint statement with Mrs. Vautrin, stated:

“It has been a great joy for me to be here in Lorient yet again for the raising of the Greek flag over NEARCHOS, the second Greek FDI class frigate, which you can see behind me.

I previously had a bilateral meeting with my French counterpart, whom I thank for the frank exchange of opinions. We had a broader discussion on matters of European defence, the Greek – French partnership, and our common presence in the European Defence structure. Our joint effort of France and Greece, Greece and France, aims to set up defensive capabilities within our European family.

And indeed, what my French counterpart Catherine Vautrin pointed out earlier was very important, the selection by Sweden of the same platform as Greece, the FDI. A platform with impressive capabilities, which in the ‘Standard 2+++’ configuration, which we have pursued and will achieve by 2030, and I want to say this clearly and with total consciousness of the gravity of my expression, is the best ship of its class worldwide.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of Jean Yves Le Drian here, whom I warmly thank. Jean Yves Le Drian was the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, with whom I negotiated and signed the Greek – French agreement, the result of which is the frigate programme. He was and remains a close friend of our country, Greece, and a man with a broader European perspective.

I would like to conclude by stating that I am especially satisfied from my cooperation with my French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, whom I warmly thank for this.

Part of the programme for the construction of the frigates is implemented in Greece; in fact, following the order for the fourth frigate, an even greater part will be built in Greece. That means that part of the frigate you can see behind me was made by Greek hands and has a Greek soul.

Therefore, this programme is a programme which adds new capabilities to our country’s Armed Forces.

In this respect, I am glad and am looking forward to us welcoming ‘Nearchos’, after raising the Greek flag today, in Piraeus, at the Naval Station in Salamis, in early December.

Thank you very much”.