The French military staff posted on social media on the 27th that the carrier strike group of the French carrier “De Gaulle” left Toulon on the same day for the Atlantic to participate in a large-scale military exercise called Orion 26.
The news said that some Allied military ships were also incorporated into the carrier strike group “De Gaulle” this time, to demonstrate the alliance‘s cooperative combat capability. However, the news did not mention the specific location of the exercise.
The French media quoted insiders as reporting that the exercise will be held in the North Atlantic. The report mentioned that the North Atlantic has recently become a “sensitive area” due to disputes between the United States and Europe over the possession of Greenland.
According to reports, the “Orion 26” military exercise is set to take place from February 8 to April 30, with a participating force of about 12,500 people. It will involve 25 ships including the “De Gaulle” aircraft carrier, 140 aircraft and helicopters, 1,200 drones, as well as related cyberspace and space operations resources. More than 20 countries will participate in the exercise.
In addition, according to French media reports, French President Macron will meet with leaders of the autonomous governments of Denmark and Greenland in Paris on 28 local time.