JEDDAH, 25 April — Two French Navy squadrons consisting of nuclear-powered submarines will make a port call here next month, said Capt. Philippe Combes, commander of the French Training Squadron for Naval Officers (GEAOM).
He was speaking at a ceremony in honor of a GEAOM flotilla docking at Jeddah Islamic Port on Monday.
French Ambassador to the Kingdom Bernard Poletti attended the function on board the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc.
Besides Jeanne d’Arc, the French naval fleet consists of frigates Georges Leygues, La Fayette and LST Ouragan.
The GEAOM squadron, which was scheduled to remain in Jeddah for three days, carries 160 officer trainees for operation, technical matters and coast guard in addition to several trainees from countries such as Kuwait, Singapore and Malaysia.
During their total training period of nine months, they spend six months at sea. Twelve officers in the visiting GEAOM, who are Muslims, will go to Makkah to perform Umrah during their stay in Jeddah.
The squadron is also scheduled to participate in joint naval exercises with the Royal Saudi Navy. The visiting naval ships also aim to increase cooperation between the two countries.
GEAOM arrived here on Monday after leaving Cochin on the west coast of India on April 14.
The voyage began on Nov. 24, 2000, and will end on May 14, when the flotilla docks in Brest. The flotilla, which will leave Jeddah tomorrow, will call at Cadiz on May 7.
