France Sells Egypt Two Warships Originally Meant for Russia

Matthew 24:7 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

According to the French government, Egypt agreed to buy two Mistral-class helicopter carriers that was originally going to be sold to Russia.

The contract between Russia and France was signed in 2011, but was suspended when violent unrest broke out in eastern Ukraine last year. After the suspension of the contract, France refunded $1 billion to Russia. The original contract was to be the biggest arms sale in history between a NATO country and Russia.

These new vessels will add powerful capabilities in Egypt’s fight against Islamist threats across Egypt’s western border in Libya and along the Sinai Peninsula. The deal was closed Tuesday after talks between French President Francois Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Egypt is expected to take possession of the ships in March of next year, officials said. In the meantime, Egypt will be sending 400 soldiers to France to learn how to man the new warships.

“France will assure delivery of these boats while losing nothing, and by doing so protecting Egypt,” Hollande said.

This isn’t the first arms deal between the two countries. Egypt has also bought 24 advanced Rafale fighter jets from France earlier this year.

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