in-cyprus 21 February 2020 -Edited by Bouli Hadjioannou
The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle docked at Limassol on Friday for a five day port call
The 2000 crew Charles de Gaulle has visited Limassol before in 2010 and 2016. It will remain in port until February 26 and will be visited by President Nicos Anastasiades tomorrow.
The Charles de Gaulle is part of the French aircraft carrier group composed also of supply ship Var and Greek navy frigate.
The multi-mission Frigate Auvergne will dock in Larnaca.
After leaving Toulon on January 21, the aircraft carrier group forming Task Force 473 around aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, has been conducting operations in the Middle East for the last four weeks as part of the international coalition against ISIS (Inherent resolve.
The port call of aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in Limassol illustrates the close relationship between France and Cyprus as part of the European Union, the French embassy said.
During its presence in the vicinity of Cyprus, the French aircraft carrier group has been conducting several exercises with the Cypriot National Guard.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER GROUP
On departure from Toulon, the air and naval group was composed of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the on-board air group, the multi-mission frigate (FREMM) Auvergne, the air defence frigate (FDA) Chevalier Paul, the command and supply ship (BCR) Var, the Greek frigate HS Spetsai and a nuclear attack submarine.
Throughout the deployment, various French* and foreign ships (German, American, Belgian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese) as well as a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2 will accompany or interact with the naval air group.
The on-board air group comprises 20 Rafale Marine, 2 E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, 1 Marine Cayman helicopter (NH90) and 2 Dauphin Pedro helicopters.
*The BCR Somme, the BCR Marne, the FREMM Bretagne, the FREMM Normandie, the light stealth frigate (FLF)
