As one of the final activities of a long deployment spanning several continents, the large helicopter carrier Mistral is visiting Copenhagen from June 28th to July 2nd.
The purpose of the visit is to strengthen Danish/French military cooperation. The visit will include joint training with units from the Royal Danish Air Force and the Mistral. While the carrier is docked in Copenhagen, a series of meetings will take place between Danish and French military personnel. The Mistral will also host a reception for guests, and Danish, French, and international cadets will participate in sports activities.
The Mistral will be docked at Toldboden in Copenhagen, where it will be visible. There will be no public access to the ship during the naval visit, so it will not be possible to visit the Mistral or come aboard.
Operation Jeanne d’Arc
Since February, the Mistral has been on the **Operation Jeanne d’Arc** deployment along with the French frigate Surcouf. Along the way, the ships have sailed to various destinations in Africa, South and North America, the Arctic, and Northern Europe. The frigate Surcouf will not be coming to Copenhagen.
The French deployment aims to strengthen France’s strategic partnerships and contribute to stability in the area north of the Arctic Circle. At the same time, the Mistral trains cadets during its voyage around the world.
After its visit to Copenhagen, the Mistral will embark on the final leg of its deployment, concluding when it returns to its naval base in Toulon on the Mediterranean Sea.
The Royal Danish Navy previously participated in an operation with a French aircraft carrier—the Charles de Gaulle—in 2019, where the frigate Niels Juel was part of the carrier’s escort, while aircraft from the carrier flew missions over Iraq and Syria. Additionally, an EH101 helicopter supported the carrier with logistics tasks.