AFP – May 4, 2015 – French President Francois Hollande sought to boost ties in the Gulf Monday as he oversaw the signing of a warplanes deal with Qatar and headed to Saudi Arabia for a summit.
Hollande was to be the first Western head of state to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual gathering when it meets in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The summit comes at a crucial time for the six-nation GCC, with a Saudi-led coalition bombing rebels in Yemen, concern over the rise of Islamist militants and regional worries over a potential final nuclear deal with Iran.
With Hollande in attendance, the CEO of French aerospace firm Dassault, Eric Trappier, signed the 6.3-billion-euro ($7-billion) deal with Qatari defence officials in Doha.
The agreement includes an order for 24 Rafale fighter jets, with an option on a further 12.
“Good choice,” Hollande said as the deal was signed.
“If we are present here in Qatar… it is because there has been a long tradition, and because France is seen as a reliable country which a partner country can have confidence in.”
At the signing ceremony, Hollande hailed France’s ties with Gulf countries and his invitation to the GCC summit.
“It is an honour for France, a sign of friendship and of confidence,” he said.
Hollande was to meet Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before flying to Saudi Arabia for the GCC summit and separate talks with Saudi King Salman.
Tuesday’s GCC summit will bring together leaders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
On Sunday, Yemeni sources said the coalition had sent a “limited” ground force of several dozen soldiers to assist pro-government fighters in Aden.