France, Saudi agree to boost defense links

[tocqueville]

1 hour, 30 minutes ago

RIYADH (AFP) - France and Saudi Arabia agreed to set up technical committees to boost defense links during a visit by French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie to the oil-rich kingdom, a member of her delegation said.

Alliot-Marie met for more than an hour with King Abdullah in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after talks with Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who is also defense minister, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity.

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The committees will also handle issues such as "training military personnel and technology transfers," he said.

The military deals signed in July paved the way for sales of French tanks and fighter jets worth billions of dollars to Riyadh, the French presidency said at the time.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060903/wl_mideast_afp/mideastsaudifrance

[cigsandcoffee]

1. Didn't they used to buy American?

Our lowered standing in the Middle East is becoming quite an economic boon for the French.

[tocqueville]

2. they just bought plenty of British stuff too

plenty of European military equipment is in world top class and often cheaper. Why buy a F22 Raptor when you can have 2 Eurofighters or 2 Rafales for the same price ? The F22 is somewhat superior, but what if you have more planes.

As long a you don't buy stealth fighters and ICBMs which are not for sale, the US has got now big competition on practically every military market.