Italy and Greece have signed a memorandum paving the way for the transfer of two FREMM-class frigates from the Italian Navy to Greece.
The agreement was announced after Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto met his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, at the Seafuture exhibition in La Spezia on Monday.
Crosetto said Italy and Greece share a long-standing partnership within NATO and the European Union, and underlined the need for joint action in dealing with global and regional challenges. He highlighted that no country can respond to crises alone, pointing to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, instability in Africa, and tensions in the Balkans.
The minister described the memorandum as a tangible step in strengthening security in the Mediterranean and NATO’s southern flank, noting that it reflects how defence cooperation can support both regional stability and collective security.
Dendias, in a post on X, confirmed that the two sides had also signed a letter of intent on naval cooperation and the procurement of Bergamini-class frigates from Italy.
FREMM-class frigates
The FREMM (Fregata Europea Multi-Missione) project was launched by Italy and France in the early 2000s, producing a multi-role frigate for both navies.
In Italian service, the ships are known as the Bergamini class, while in France they are designated the Aquitaine class. Measuring 144.6 metres in length and nearly 20 metres in width, they displace around 6,900 tonnes. Powered by an electric-diesel propulsion system, they can reach 27 knots and operate up to 6,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots.
The class has a low radar profile and can be configured for either general-purpose or anti-submarine operations. Italy built 10 of these frigates between 2008 and 2024, selling two to Egypt in 2020.
Italian media have reported that Greece is set to acquire the Carlo Bergamini (F590), the first of the class commissioned in 2013, and the Virginio Fasan (F591), an anti-submarine version delivered later that year.
FREMM-class vessels are also in service with the navies of Egypt and Morocco, while Indonesia has ordered six ships from Italy.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies...
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported...
Uzbekistan will open an embassy in Georgia, the Central Asian country’s presidency has said. The announcement follows talks between Uzbekistan’s P...
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the eastern German city of Erfurt on Saturday as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opened ...
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in secur...
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the eastern German city of Erfurt on Saturday as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opened its annual party conference, where delegates voted to keep Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as the party's co-leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Armenia's parliament has passed a new law raising the requirements for citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, following concerns over alleged efforts to influence last month's parliamentary vote through Armenian citizens residing in Russia.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment