France selling 2 Mistral class warships to Egypt

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt will buy two warships that France had 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, September 23, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi spoke by telephone and agreed on the “principle and modalities” for Egypt to purchase the two Mistral class ships, Hollande’s office said.

The vessels would add powerful capabilities to Egypt’s military arsenal as Sisi battles Islamist militant threats to his government in places including the Sinai Peninsula and from across Egypt’s western border in Libya. The ships can launch helicopters and tanks from the sea for amphibious assaults, using a sophisticated command-and-control system to guide them.

The details of the deal weren’t announced. Russia had agreed to pay France €1.2 billion ($1.34 billion) for the two boats. Hollande suspended the contract last year because of Moscow’s role supporting pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. France and Russia agreed to cancel the contract in August.