Abdullah bin Zayed tours French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle

Abu Dhabi: HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister, yesterday paid a visit to the French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle. The nuclear-powered flagship of the French Navy is calling Mina Zayed as part of French air naval units participating in the Task Force 473 operation in the region. The mission aims to enhance cooperation and interoperability in the region. Sheikh Abdullah was welcomed on board by Rear Admiral Eric Chaperon, Commander of French Navy, and Michel Miraillet, France's Ambassador to the UAE. HH was given a guided tour of various sections of the vessel and received a briefing about the aircraft carrier and its mission as well as specifications and missions of the Rafale fighters, the most advanced fighters to enter service in the French Air force. The ship carries a complement of nine Dassault-Breguet Super ?tendards, 10 Dassault Rafale fighters and two E-2C Hawkeye aircrafts, two EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar helicopter for combat search and rescue, as well as modern electronics and Aster missiles. Rear Admiral Eric Chaperon, Commander of French Navy, told media representatives on board that France views regional stability as one of its key priorities and its commitments to countries in the region comes within the context of its long-term strategic partnership with the region. The role of the French units, he said, is to enhance security of the strategic waterways: the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and to improve air and naval interoperability and training exchange with armed forces in the region. He added that the visit to Abu Dhabi would provide the France the opportunity to further bolster its already strong existing ties with the UAE, particularly in sharing expertise and ideas and developing better methods of training and operational capabilities. - Emirates News Agency, WAM – Read more: