French Navy

Europe's largest warship, the French navy flagship Charles De Gaulle, docked at Limassol port once again on Friday, in view of upcoming joint military exercises between the armies of Cyprus and France.

Amid rising tensions in the East Mediterranean, the flagship of the French Navy, aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, remains in Block 8 of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, bearing a small fleet of Rafale fighter jets, helicopters, other aircraft and drones.

Cypriot Defense Minister Savvas Angelides and French counterpart Florence Parly reportedly signed a statement of intent on Wednesday to allow the French Navy to use a naval station at Mari to permanently service its warships, according to news website politis.com.cy.

The French navy frigate Surcouf entered the Black Sea on May 28, reports the Russian wire service ITAR-TASS. 

The French ship will join the mission of the USS Vella Gulf, who sailed into the Black Sea on May 23. 

Currently the US ship is near the Romanian coast. Surcouf and Vella Gulf will have a mission to gather information.