French Ambassador Laurence Auer paid a visit on Sunday to the French aircraft carrier 'Charles de Gaulle', tied up at the Faliron Bay after a four-month tour of the Indo-Pacific region.

Lauer, who was given a tour of the carrier with journalists (including from the Athens-Macedonian News Agency), said in statements on board that this intermediate stop at Piraeus during these times is very important, and it also provides visual proof of the French-Greek cooperation, the strategic cooperation signed in 2021.

She added that the ship plays a key role in the training and substantial exchange of experiences between different naval forces in countries it has been to, but also between the French and Greek navies and air forces, showing the multidimensional work of Rafale aircraft.

The 'Charles de Gaulle", she noted, had sailed to the Red Sea twice, and was in the area to help out in the EU operation 'Aspides' there.

Visit by Greek navy chief

Speaking to the press, Rear Admiral and chief of the French Carrier Strike Group Jacques Mallard referred to the 'Clemenceau 25' mission in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and said the mission could not have been completed without visiting the port of Piraeus. "Greece is our best partner in the Mediterranean," he said. In addition, cooperation with Greece numbers 'many years' and said that between leaving Toulon and arriving at the Red Sea he had worked with the Greek navy to incorporate a frigate. "We are truly proud to have opportunities for cooperation, whether with the Hellenic Air Force or the Hellenic Navy," he said. 

On Saturday, the French aircraft carrier welcomed on board Navy General Staff chief Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, who was representing the Hellenic National Defense General Staff chief, General Dimitrios Choupis, for a visit. 

Choupis was welcomed by Rear Admiral Mallard and aircraft carrier captain, Georges-Antoine Florentin.

The ship is 260 meters long and carries 22 Rafale airplanes, as well as reconaissance and rescue ships. It is escorted by a submarine, a frigate, and other ships for security and operational support. It carries onboard 1,800 people in total, including officers and staff, and its technical crew is trained to maintain and repair the carrier while on missions.

After Piraeus, the carrier will return to Toulon.