Several military ships of the CLEMENCEAU 22 air group, have docked in Cyprus, including the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and the US frigate USS Ross,[/B] the Embassy of France announced on Saturday.
According to the statement, the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and the US frigate USS Ross arrived in Limassol, while the multi-mission frigate (FREMM) Normandie is in the port of Larnaca.
The command and supply ship (CSB) Marne and the multi-mission frigate with enhanced air defence capability (FREMM-DA) Alsace are also scheduled to dock in the coming days.
These dockings, it is reported, allow crews to rebuild the operational capacity of their warship by carrying out necessary maintenance and scheduled rotation of personnel. The various units of the carrier's battle group will thus be able to go to sea again for another important period of air-sea operations, it added."
"Cyprus, due to its geographical location, is an important strategic support point for the French army," the statement said. These operational breaks are one of the elements of the cooperation between France and the Republic of Cyprus, two members of the European Union that wish to promote their level of cooperation and jointly contribute to the security of Europe's maritime approaches, it adds.
It also says that the air force has already carried out a first exercise, called Talos 22, with the Cypriot National Guard, allowing the maintenance of mutual knowledge of our defence systems.
Other joint training sessions have already been scheduled for the remainder of the mission.
It should be noted that the aeronautical team set up around the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle has been deployed since 1 February as part of the CLEMENCEAU 22 mission.
According to the Embassy, from the Eastern Mediterranean, the aeronautical team is contributing to the autonomous assessment of the situation in the region and to Operation CHAMMAL, the French component of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, conducting parallel operations with their partners.
Source: CNA
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