Danish and French forces are getting to know each other better through exercises based on giant warships.
The French helicopter carrier “Mistral” arrived in the port of Copenhagen on Saturday.
The Danish Armed Forces writes this on their website.
The aircraft carrier has just been to Greenland to practice sailing close to the ice.
Training for practice
In Danish waters, the ship, with a crew of 600 soldiers, has conducted exercises with both the Danish Navy and Air Force.
– It is important to emphasize that it is not just for show that we are cooperating. We are practicing what will be used in practice, says Commander Captain Quentin Vieux-Rochas, who is in command of the French warship, to the Danish Armed Forces website.
There have been exercises with Danish Seahawk helicopters and French Dauphine helicopters on surveillance and aerial response.
The French helicopter carrier Mistral is in Danish waters. The visit strengthens the already strong military cooperation between Denmark and France.#dkforsvarhttps://t.co/ePk9j9zMem pic.twitter.com/PuTN1DDyWg
The purpose is for the soldiers to get to know each other, says the Danish defense attaché in France, Colonel Nicolas Veicherts.
– So the next time there is a French or Danish helicopter pilot on the radio, they will understand each other both when it comes to NATO procedure and how it sounds when we each speak English.
– And we also learn something about how our operational culture shapes us. All of this makes us stronger on the day we have to solve tough tasks, he tells Forsvaret.dk.
French visit and flight over Greenland
France is the EU’s largest military power.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, earlier this month, together with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S).
Here the president expressed support for the Danish Prime Minister’s assurance that Greenland is not for sale.
He also announced that France will open a consulate general in Nuuk.
French aircraft are currently in the air over Greenland, according to the announcement on Forsvaret.dk.
They are deployed for refueling Danish F-16 aircraft patrolling along the coasts of Greenland.
– It sends a signal that the two countries cooperate on many levels and take the time to get to know each other and keep this up, says Colonel Nicolas Veicherts.