French ship Dixmude

French amphibious assault ship Dixmude, which serves as a helicopter carrier, is seen through the yawning hatch of a Hellenic Army Chinook after takeoff during a joint Greek-US-French military exercise on the Aegean island of Skyros on Friday. Troops were simulating the operation of recapturing a Greek island from enemy forces.

A man walks past a French Navy helicopter carrier at the port of Piraeus on Monday. The Dixmude amphibious assault ship will take part in a Hellenic Armed Forces exercise called "Alexander the Great," which began on Monday. Speaking to the press on the ship, French Ambassador to Athens Patrick Maisonnave said that both countries want to strengthen defense ties further.

The French Ambassador to Greece Patrick Maisonnave on Monday underlined France's interest in boosting defense ties with Greece during a press conference delivered from the Dixmude amphibious assault ship and helicopter carrier which is currently docked at the port of Piraeus and participating in exercises with Greek armed forces.