French-Gulf cooperation deepens with major defence sales

Middle Eastern contractors take up around 25% of France’s budget Negotiations are underway between France and Gulf states ahead of a planned arms sale which would include Rafale fighter jets as well as a range of missile systems . French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Derian revealed the deal following a meeting at the IDEX 2013 arms fair.
Prospective deals could secure the sale of Rafale jets, Tiger helicopters and Easter missile systems, as well as air defence weaponry.
“France has set up partnerships with several defensive Gulf states,” Derian said. “Therefore, signing weapons contracts indicates the vitality of these partnerships and we are going to have a strong presence in all sectors relating to defence.”
Over 70 French companies attended IDEX, as well as military officials displaying French space, communications and military equipment.
Derian described France as a reliable partner with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), through continued development with training exercises, operations and technology transfers.
“This strong and strategic relationship, based on common interests, led to the signing of the Defence Convention between the two countries in 1995,” a deal which paved the way for a French military base installed in Abu Dhabi in 2009.
“Since 2012, France’s presence in the UAE has formed a solid base to strengthen this cooperation,” Derian claimed.
France is now one of the top five global arms traders in the global defence sector.
Between 2006-2011, the Middle East formed around 26 percent of total French arms spending.