France asks Germany to allow unlimited exports of warplanes in conflict-hit countries

[SuvarnaTeja]

France has threatened to cancel a Franco-German project to develop a next-generation fighter jet unless Germany agrees to allow unlimited exports of the warplanes, even to countries involved in conflicts, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Friday.

The German magazine, citing a confidential cable sent by the German ambassador in France, said French officials made their position clear during a meeting in Paris on Sept. 21.

The official could not be reached for comment at the German Defence Ministry, which is overseeing the project, nor were any available at France's Defence Ministry and the French presidency.

The project was first announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2017, along with plans to develop a new tank.

During the September meeting, Claire Landais, France's general secretary for defence and national security, said unlimited exports were "a central part of the financing of the overall project" and France viewed "long-term guarantees for future exports of the equipment as essential," Spiegel said.

"Only when such guarantees have been made can the political green light be given for billions of euros in investments", the notes quoted Landais as saying.

Last week, Airbus defence chief Dirk Hoke warned France against demanding too big of a share of the programme, saying it could doom its chances for approval by the German parliament.

Airbus had agreed to let its rival, France's Dassault Aviation, take the lead on developing a new combat aircraft, but that did not mean France would run the overall project, which will also include unmanned aircraft and other weapons, Hoke told French website La Tribune.

Dassault Aviation and Airbus, the respective industrial partners for France and Germany, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Spiegel report and Hoke's comments laid bare continued tensions over the ambitious undertaking by two countries with very different views on arms exports.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has halted arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia in protest over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, a killing she has called a "monstrosity".

France's reaction to the Khashoggi case has been guarded to date as Paris tries to retain its sway with Riyadh and protect commercial relations spanning energy, finance and weaponry.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that calls by several EU countries including Germany to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi's killing smacked of populist "demagoguery".

Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders was critical of Germany's stance in remarks to Der Spiegel. "Berlin cannot constantly call for European cooperation, but then back out when it gets to be concrete," he said.

Germany, he added, was signalling to Paris that it did not consider French foreign and security policy to be responsible.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/Articl...xports-of-warplanes-in-conflict-hit-countries

French are welcome to tie with India instead.

 

[nahtanbob]

Vietnam was a defeat. The most potent force of this world also lost in Vietnam. Algeria was more like a political defeat rather than a military defeat. Algeria would have got its independence one year or another,this was inevitable. (For lot of reasons,either internal or external)

Most of US's recent wars and operations were conducted with multi-national forces,does that mean this force can't be considered as "battle hardened" ?

BTW,if you think France's only fighting against "some tribal chiefs" in Africa,you clearly have no knowledge about the issues and matters in the region,nor what's opposing France and the Africans there. (The Americans learned it at Tongo Tongo)

Vietnam was not a military defeat for USA. it was a political defeat. For France it was a military defeat.

Most of the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq were done by American troops. USA routed the Taliban with 100 special forces troops on the ground in Oct-Nov 2011.

I have not forgotten about alliance of the willing in Iraq

Name serious fights France has been in. France has always been a part of multi-national contingents

 

[randomradio]

France has threatened to cancel a Franco-German project to develop a next-generation fighter jet unless Germany agrees to allow unlimited exports of the warplanes, even to countries involved in conflicts, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Friday.

The German magazine, citing a confidential cable sent by the German ambassador in France, said French officials made their position clear during a meeting in Paris on Sept. 21.

The official could not be reached for comment at the German Defence Ministry, which is overseeing the project, nor were any available at France's Defence Ministry and the French presidency.

The project was first announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2017, along with plans to develop a new tank.

During the September meeting, Claire Landais, France's general secretary for defence and national security, said unlimited exports were "a central part of the financing of the overall project" and France viewed "long-term guarantees for future exports of the equipment as essential," Spiegel said.

"Only when such guarantees have been made can the political green light be given for billions of euros in investments", the notes quoted Landais as saying.

Last week, Airbus defence chief Dirk Hoke warned France against demanding too big of a share of the programme, saying it could doom its chances for approval by the German parliament.

Airbus had agreed to let its rival, France's Dassault Aviation, take the lead on developing a new combat aircraft, but that did not mean France would run the overall project, which will also include unmanned aircraft and other weapons, Hoke told French website La Tribune.

Dassault Aviation and Airbus, the respective industrial partners for France and Germany, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Spiegel report and Hoke's comments laid bare continued tensions over the ambitious undertaking by two countries with very different views on arms exports.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has halted arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia in protest over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, a killing she has called a "monstrosity".

France's reaction to the Khashoggi case has been guarded to date as Paris tries to retain its sway with Riyadh and protect commercial relations spanning energy, finance and weaponry.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that calls by several EU countries including Germany to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi's killing smacked of populist "demagoguery".

Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders was critical of Germany's stance in remarks to Der Spiegel. "Berlin cannot constantly call for European cooperation, but then back out when it gets to be concrete," he said.

Germany, he added, was signalling to Paris that it did not consider French foreign and security policy to be responsible.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/Articl...xports-of-warplanes-in-conflict-hit-countries

Honestly, I'm hoping France develops the FCAS on its own and then allow Germany to license produce it. If this doesn't happen, the program is doomed to failure.

 

[Cell_DbZ]

ietnam was not a military defeat for USA. it was a political defeat. For France it was a military defeat.

sure, you won the vast majority of the battles, but you didn't win the war. Guess what, the French Unoin lost 75k soldiers, while the Viet Minh lost upwars of 300k, furthermore, the French were completely torn apart by ww2, so it was inevitable they would have lost. What's your excuse? In the end you retreated and in the end, the Vietnamese communists stayed in power and took the country. Most of the time political and military defeats go hand in hand. Usa winning the battles means nothing when the you failed to achieve your goal.

Most of the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq were done by American troops. USA routed the Taliban with 100 special forces troops on the ground in Oct-Nov 2011.

sure, America is the indisputable strongest military force in the world, nobody is disputing that. Despite that ISIS still rose in Iraq, Iran gained a lot of influecne in Iraq and you're still bogged down in Afghanistan.

I have not forgotten about alliance of the willing in Iraq

Alliance of the "willing" It seems you weren't 'willing' enough to find those nuclear weapons.. It's definitely not a shame to be unwilling to invade a country and destroy it for years to come.

Name serious fights France has been in. France has always been a part of multi-national contingents

what makes a fight 'serious' for you? Many people getting killed? An entire country getting destroyed? If so, then the French should be proud to not have been in a 'serious' fight.

Since world war 2, you didn't really have a 'serious' opponent either. You know why? Most 'serious' opponents now have nuclear weapons.

France has always been a part of multi-national contingents

And so have you? Of course you guys led them, but you still got a lot of support (military, diplomatic, financial,..)
They French were one of the leaders of Libya (an adventure they shouldn't be proud of) and Mali as well.

 

[Vergennes]

sure, you won the vast majority of the battles, but you didn't win the war. Guess what, the French Unoin lost 75k soldiers, while the Viet Minh lost upwars of 300k, furthermore, the French were completely torn apart by ww2, so it was inevitable they would have lost. What's your excuse? In the end you retreated and in the end, the Vietnamese communists stayed in power and took the country. Most of the time political and military defeats go hand in hand. Usa winning the battles means nothing when the you failed to achieve your goal.


sure, America is the indisputable strongest military force in the world, nobody is disputing that. Despite that ISIS still rose in Iraq, Iran gained a lot of influecne in Iraq and you're still bogged down in Afghanistan.


Alliance of the "willing" It seems you weren't 'willing' enough to find those nuclear weapons.. It's definitely not a shame to be unwilling to invade a country and destroy it for years to come.


what makes a fight 'serious' for you? Many people getting killed? An entire country getting destroyed? If so, then the French should be proud to not have been in a 'serious' fight.

Since world war 2, you didn't really have a 'serious' opponent either. You know why? Most 'serious' opponents now have nuclear weapons.



And so have you? Of course you guys led them, but you still got a lot of support (military, diplomatic, financial,..)
They French were one of the leaders of Libya (an adventure they shouldn't be proud of) and Mali as well.

France has not waged wars against "credible opponents" (according to the above person's definition) because no "credible opponent" has yet dared to declare war against France,a country having potent armed forces,but also above all,a nuclear armed nation.

France acts according to its interests or to support its allies,it's not going to declare or wage wars just to satisfy someone on a random forum.

The "credible opponents" of this planet,do not dare to move against the other one because of the catastrophe that would happen,either on regional or international level. By this logic,no armed forces on this planet are "battle hardened".