The exercise that will make Ankara… sweat has begun.
“We fully support Greece’s sovereignty. Cooperation in matters of foreign and defense policy and armaments is gaining more importance today in the face of the challenges”, French President Emmanuel Macron had emphasized to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis just last week.
And Paris seems not only to keep this promise but to send the message to Ankara with actions. Many times even in the loudest way. As in the large bilateral exercise “ARGO 2022” which takes place from Friday to October 1st in the Aegean.
An exercise of substance but also of high symbolism which is considered a given that will strongly disturb Ankara. Since, among others, one of her scenarios includes Ai Stratis, an island which is in the “target” of the neighbors as they believe it should be demilitarized like a number of other uninhabited islands.
Already at sea and bound for the Aegean is the powerful amphibious operations ship FS “Tonnerre” loaded with tanks, crawlers, helicopters, marines and a Special Operations commando team. It is a 200 meter long ship codenamed “Thunder” which has been operating for Marine Nationale since 2006. “Twin” with FS “Dixmude” which in 2020 participated in the impressive exercise “ALEXANDER THE GREAT” which took place in the same area .
Our Navy will participate in “ARGO 2022” with the frigate “ELLI”, two tankers and a submarine. In addition, the Special Warfare Command spearheaded by the 32nd Marine Brigade and Special Operations Unit Executives will also be present. The 1st Army Aviation Brigade with Chinook transport helicopters and Apache attack helicopters will also play a key role in the bilateral cross-branch exercise organized by GEETHA. While the “hawks” of the HAF could not be missing. Our Air Force will assist in all scenarios with F-16, Mirage 2000-5 and F-4 Phantom fighter jets.
The focus of the exercise and Command ship will be the French Mistral-class amphibious Assault Ship. According to information, in the first days all ships will sail to Pagasitikos where the relevant briefing will take place and then the main part of “ARGO 2022” will follow. With one of the scenarios providing for airborne energy in Ai Stratis with the participation of all the of forces taking part and execution by helicopters and commandos. The choice of our unspoiled island was anything but accidental, since in this way Paris wants to send a loud and clear message to Ankara that Greece’s sovereignty over the Aegean islands, and especially over those disputed by Turkey, is a given and recognized in the most absolute way from France. Which, after all, has committed itself to military assistance to Greece against any threat.
The final stage of the “ARGO 2022” exercise will take place in Skyros with a large landing force of French and Greek Marines and support both from the ships and from the air by Air Force fighters and Apache attack helicopters.
