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France to Sell Two Mistral Warships to Egypt
photo: French-built warship BPC Vladivostock, which was designed to strengthen Russia's ability to deploy troops, tanks and helicopter gunships, in Saint-Nazaire harbor, western France in March. France said Wednesday it is selling two Mistral class warships that were originally intended for Russia to Egypt.
PARIS—Egypt will buy two warships that France originally built for Russia but refused to deliver because of Moscow’s role in the conflict in Ukraine, French President François Hollande said on Wednesday.
Mr. Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi spoke by phone and agreed on the “principle and modalities” for Egypt to purchase the two Mistral class ships, Mr. Hollande’s office said.
The vessels would add powerful capabilities to Egypt’s military arsenal, as Mr. Sisi battles Islamist militant threats to his government in places like the Sinai Peninsula and from across Egypt’s western border in Libya.
The details of the deal weren’t announced. Russia had agreed to pay France €1.2 billion ($1.34 billion) for the two boats—before Mr. Hollande suspended the contract last yearbecause of Moscow’s role in supporting pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. France and Russia agreed to cancel the contract last month.
The deal is a further sign that Egypt and other Arab governments have been moving to reduce their dependence on the U.S. as a military supplier. France has been eager to step in. Earlier this year, Egypt bought 24 Rafale fighter jets, made by France’s Dassault AviationSA, for around €5 billion.
Qatar agreed to buy 24 Rafale jets in April; France announced plans in June to sell $12 billion worth of civilian and military equipment to Saudi Arabia.
Those military upgrades have gained new urgency after Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, heralding the end of sweeping sanctions on the country. Arab countries fear the deal will enrich and embolden Tehran, their regional rival.
The Mistral ships would be one of the most sophisticated pieces of equipment in the arsenal of a Middle Eastern military. The ships can carry helicopters, tanks and hundreds of troops, using a sophisticated command-and-control system to guide them in amphibious assaults.
After Moscow annexed the Black Sea territory of Crimea and began backing separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Hollande came under increasing pressure to cancel the contract. France’s Western allies feared the ships would give Russia new powers to carry out military operations in coastal areas.
Paying for the ships could be a challenge for Cairo. Egyptian officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. French officials have said Egypt could seek external financing from its Arab neighbors to help with the purchases. The ships may also need to be reoutfitted, since France originally built them to the Russian military’s specifications.
For France, selling the ships to Egypt will help offset the cost of canceling the sale to Russia. The deal could also revive the port of Saint-Nazaire’s hopes of becoming a major military ship builder, which suffered a blow when the Russian sale was canceled.
The city, which once built some of France’s biggest ships, now relies on cruise-ship contracts for economic survival.
photo: French-built warship BPC Vladivostock, which was designed to strengthen Russia's ability to deploy troops, tanks and helicopter gunships, in Saint-Nazaire harbor, western France in March. France said Wednesday it is selling two Mistral class warships that were originally intended for Russia to Egypt.
PARIS—Egypt will buy two warships that France originally built for Russia but refused to deliver because of Moscow’s role in the conflict in Ukraine, French President François Hollande said on Wednesday.
Mr. Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi spoke by phone and agreed on the “principle and modalities” for Egypt to purchase the two Mistral class ships, Mr. Hollande’s office said.
The vessels would add powerful capabilities to Egypt’s military arsenal, as Mr. Sisi battles Islamist militant threats to his government in places like the Sinai Peninsula and from across Egypt’s western border in Libya.
The details of the deal weren’t announced. Russia had agreed to pay France €1.2 billion ($1.34 billion) for the two boats—before Mr. Hollande suspended the contract last yearbecause of Moscow’s role in supporting pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. France and Russia agreed to cancel the contract last month.
The deal is a further sign that Egypt and other Arab governments have been moving to reduce their dependence on the U.S. as a military supplier. France has been eager to step in. Earlier this year, Egypt bought 24 Rafale fighter jets, made by France’s Dassault AviationSA, for around €5 billion.
Qatar agreed to buy 24 Rafale jets in April; France announced plans in June to sell $12 billion worth of civilian and military equipment to Saudi Arabia.
Those military upgrades have gained new urgency after Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, heralding the end of sweeping sanctions on the country. Arab countries fear the deal will enrich and embolden Tehran, their regional rival.
The Mistral ships would be one of the most sophisticated pieces of equipment in the arsenal of a Middle Eastern military. The ships can carry helicopters, tanks and hundreds of troops, using a sophisticated command-and-control system to guide them in amphibious assaults.
After Moscow annexed the Black Sea territory of Crimea and began backing separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Hollande came under increasing pressure to cancel the contract. France’s Western allies feared the ships would give Russia new powers to carry out military operations in coastal areas.
Paying for the ships could be a challenge for Cairo. Egyptian officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. French officials have said Egypt could seek external financing from its Arab neighbors to help with the purchases. The ships may also need to be reoutfitted, since France originally built them to the Russian military’s specifications.
For France, selling the ships to Egypt will help offset the cost of canceling the sale to Russia. The deal could also revive the port of Saint-Nazaire’s hopes of becoming a major military ship builder, which suffered a blow when the Russian sale was canceled.
The city, which once built some of France’s biggest ships, now relies on cruise-ship contracts for economic survival.
