France, Jan. 27 -- The Charles de Gaulle- the pride of the French navy- set sail from the Mediterranean port of Toulon this week to take part in a major allied exercise, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

While officials declined to give precise details of its route, sources said the carrier strike group is heading into the North Atlantic - a stretch of ocean that has found itself squarely at the centre of recent geopolitical friction.

The deployment comes as French President Emmanuel Macron prepares to host talks in Paris with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland.

Greenland's strategic location between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic, coupled with its mineral resources, has made it an increasingly important focus for global po...