Egypt’s Sisi hails burgeoning military ties with Paris

By Viola Fahmy

CAIRO

Egypt has become the second largest user of French naval equipment after the French Navy itself, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Tuesday, stressing his country’s desire for even closer military ties with Paris.

Al-Sisi, who is currently on a three-day official visit to France, made the assertion at a meeting in Paris with officials from French industrial firm Naval Group.

Speaking to Naval Group CEO Herve Guillou, al-Sisi said Cairo’s recent purchase of equipment from the company had aided in the modernization of Egypt’s naval fleet, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency.

Guillou, for his part, expressed the firm’s keenness to explore prospects for further cooperation with Egypt and Egypt’s military.

On Monday, al-Sisi arrived in Paris for a three-day visit during which he will meet with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

The two leaders are expected to discuss means of stepping up bilateral ties in the political, economic and military arenas.

Since al-Sisi came to power on the back of a bloody military coup in 2013, he has cut several high-profile weapons-procurement deals with Paris.

More than 160 French firms currently have a presence in Egypt, where they employ nearly 30,000 people across a wide range of sectors.