ORAC
3rd Dec 2021, 17:14
https://twitter.com/telegraph/status/1466813504845930496?s=21Emmanuel
Macron on Friday signed an historic €17 billion (£14.5bn) defence deal with the United Arab Emirates, in what experts said was part of an effort for France to replace Britain as the European powerhouse in the Gulf.
The deal was announced at the start of a two-day trip to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as Mr Macron held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (pictured below)……
Friday’s Rafale deal - which was over a decade in the making - also deepens existing security ties between France and the UAE at a time when diplomats say US allies in the Middle East are questioning the commitment of the United States following its exit from Afghanistan.
The deal with the French is widely seen as a signal of impatience as the US Congress hesitates on approving a separate deal to sell F-35s to UAE amid concerns about its relationship with China, including the prevalence of Huawei 5G technology in the country.
It includes the purchase of 80 Rafale warplanes, 12 Airbus helicopters and missiles - the largest-ever overseas weapons sale…..
The first French warplanes will be delivered from 2027, say officials, and would create some 7,000 jobs.
France has particularly deep ties to the UAE, where it has a naval base and French warplanes and personnel also are stationed in a major facility outside the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.
Mr Macron travelled there shortly after his 2017 election to inaugurate Louvre Abu Dhabi (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/middle-east/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/articles/louvre-abu-dhabi-to-finally-open-in-november/), built under a $1.2 billion (£903.8m) agreement to share the name and art of the world-famous museum in Paris. On Friday, the contract was extended another 10 years to 2047…..
Macron on Friday signed an historic €17 billion (£14.5bn) defence deal with the United Arab Emirates, in what experts said was part of an effort for France to replace Britain as the European powerhouse in the Gulf.
The deal was announced at the start of a two-day trip to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as Mr Macron held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (pictured below)……
Friday’s Rafale deal - which was over a decade in the making - also deepens existing security ties between France and the UAE at a time when diplomats say US allies in the Middle East are questioning the commitment of the United States following its exit from Afghanistan.
The deal with the French is widely seen as a signal of impatience as the US Congress hesitates on approving a separate deal to sell F-35s to UAE amid concerns about its relationship with China, including the prevalence of Huawei 5G technology in the country.
It includes the purchase of 80 Rafale warplanes, 12 Airbus helicopters and missiles - the largest-ever overseas weapons sale…..
The first French warplanes will be delivered from 2027, say officials, and would create some 7,000 jobs.
France has particularly deep ties to the UAE, where it has a naval base and French warplanes and personnel also are stationed in a major facility outside the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.
Mr Macron travelled there shortly after his 2017 election to inaugurate Louvre Abu Dhabi (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/middle-east/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/articles/louvre-abu-dhabi-to-finally-open-in-november/), built under a $1.2 billion (£903.8m) agreement to share the name and art of the world-famous museum in Paris. On Friday, the contract was extended another 10 years to 2047…..