France-UAE military deal worth 19 Billion Dollars: In a sign of growing ties between UAE and France, the two countries signed a 19 billion dollar arms deal that will see the Gulf state acquire 80 Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters.
This deal is the largest single sale of Rafale fighter jet overseas
“This deal cements a strategic partnership that is stronger than ever and directly contributes to regional stability”, according to the French presidency said in a statement after Macron and Abu Dhabi Crown price Sheikh Moohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed the deal on the sidelines of Dubai Expo 2020.
President Macron’s visit to the gulf region comes at a time when the U.S seems to be slowly withdrawing from the region in order to focus on the Indo-Pacific region as it tries to contain the rise of China.
The deal reached between France and UAE will directly support 7000 jobs in France and guarantee the supply chain of the Dassault Aviation-made aircraft until the end of 2031 according to French officials.
France has made military deals with India, Greece, Egypt, and Croatia which in turn will lead to increased monthly production of Rafale fighter jets. Shares of Dassault Aviation SA, which is Rafale’s maker rose to more than 9% after the deal.
The decision to buy 80 Rafale fighter jets from France is seen as a sign of impatience resulting from hesitation by U.Scongress on approving an F-35 deal amid concerns about the UAE’s relationship with China, including the prevalence of Huawei 5 G technology in the country.
France has deep ties with the UAE and is one of the main arms suppliers but it has recently faced increasing pressure to review its sales because of the ongoing conflict between a Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen which has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
This 19 billion dollar deal with UAE offers France’s defense industry a short boost after the collapse of a 66 billion dollar deal with Australia to buy 12 French submarines that ultimately went to the U.S, a France ally.
Weapon sales aren’t the only factor that ties the relationship between the UAE and France as some reports indicate that France has got a naval base in UAE and French military aircraft and personal are also stationed in a major facility outside the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.
As a way of using similar defense equipment so that they can work more closely together and promote operational cooperation between the two armed forces, the helicopter deal worth 1 billion dollars was announced by the French Armed Forces Ministry.
The sale of a record number of Rafale fighter jets to overseas clients in India, UAE, Egypt, Greece, and Croatia is seen as a French success story and its aeronautical industry as it tries to compete with other more established suppliers like the U.S. on the global market.
The sale of 80 Rafale fighter jets to UAE will help to significantly upgrade UAE’s airpower capabilities in terms of strike, air to air warfare, and reconnaissance in a region that is known to have Army disputes and instabilities.
The Rafale fighter jets ordered by UAE will not be delivered until 2027.
