ATHENS

Meeting in Athens, Greece and France's top defense officials agreed on Friday to further strengthen the two countries' bilateral military ties, local media reported.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and his French counterpart Sebastian Lecorny discussed current events and bilateral defense cooperation, particularly Athens' purchase of FDI-type frigates from Paris last year, according to Greece's public broadcaster ERT.

Panagiotopoulos and Lecorny agreed to increase joint aerial exercises in the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas, reported ERT.

The Greek defense chief once again conveyed his sympathy for victims of back-to-back earthquakes that hit southern Türkiye earlier this month, underscoring Greece's swift response to the disaster.

He also said that while Greece welcomes the fall in bilateral tensions with Türkiye in the climate of solidarity that emerged after the disaster, "a meaningful dialogue between Ankara and Athens should be based on respect to international law."

Lecorny, for his part, pointed out the "excellent relations" between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron, remarking that the leaders sought to improve bilateral ties even further.