Polish, French Navies Discuss Expanding Cooperation in Maritime Security

Expanding cooperation in the field of maritime security was the main subject discussed during another set of bilateral staff talks between Polish and French Navies on February 14 in Gdynia (Poland).

Vice admiral Ryszard Demczuk, Deputy Commander of the Polish Navy and Rear admiral Charles-Henri du Ché, responsible for international cooperation in the French Navy, were leading the delegations.

The first set of staff talks between the two Navies was held in Paris in November 2011 and was followed by signing a technical agreement between the representatives of French and Polish MOD upon mutual cooperation in the field of divers underwater operations. This year’s talks concluded with signing a further cooperation protocol, including mutual maritime exercises on the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean.

During the meetings the views on the main directions of development and modernization of both navies were exchanged. French delegation also shared the lessons learned stemming from the Atalanta Operation and emphasized the benefits of Polish frigate ORP Gen. K. Pulaski’s participation in the SPONTEX 2011 exercise on the Atlantic Ocean. Later this year second Polish frigate ORP Gen. T. Kosciuszko will take part in this exercise. French Navy invited also Polish submarine ORP Orzel to participate in this multinational exercise.

Polish and French Navies cooperate mainly within international exercises at sea, port visits and staff talks. Annually both navies have several occasions to cooperate within multinational exercises under Partnership for Peace and NATO auspices. In 2012 French frigate FS “Commandant Blaison” cooperated with Polish ships in BALTOPS exercise and FS “De Grasse” with Polish anti-submarine helicopters within Dynamic Mongoose exercise in the North Sea.

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Naval Today Staff, February 18, 2013; Image: Polish Navy