France, Egypt agree Mistral warship deal

France has agreed to sell two Mistral helicopter carriers to Egypt for €950 million after their sale to Russia was cancelled in August, French officials said yesterday.

Cairo has sought to boost its military power in the face of a two-year insurgency based across the Suez Canal in the Sinai peninsula and fears the conflict in neighbouring Libya could spill over.

Egypt’s allies are also keen to burnish its image in a region beset by turmoil.

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