France to put in frigate offers as Greece beefs up military

France will put in proposals to supply new frigates to Greece, which is building up its armed forces during a period of  tension with its neighbour and NATO partner, the French defence minister said on Monday.

Florence Parly was speaking at a joint news conference with her Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos in Athens after the two finalized a 2.5 billion euros ($3 billion) agreement for the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets by Greece.

"Greece is becoming the first European country to acquire this type of fighter jet," Parly told reporters. "France will soon offer to Greece proposals to renew its fleet of frigates."

The deal for six new and 12 used Rafale jets was announced hours after a new round of talks between Greece and Turkey over disputed territorial waters ended in Istanbul.

The first deliveries of the advanced French warplanes...