The spokesman of the French government said Paris has agreed to sell two Mistral warships to Egypt.
These warship, initially built to be sold to Russia, are able to carry 16 helicopters and 1,000 military personnel. However, the sale to Russia was cancelled in August following Moscow’s attack against Ukraine.
The French Presidency Office issued a statement saying the leaders of both countries have agreed in principal to selling these ships to Egypt.
Egypt is seeking to station one Mistral ship in the Mediterranean and another in the Red Sea in preparation for operations in Yemen, a diplomatic source told Reuters. Egypt is part of the Arab coalition currently fighting the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Gulf Arab states will be providing a part of the cost of this purchase, a source informed of this deal told Reuters.