France sold two Gowind-class corvettes of state-owned shipbuilder Naval Group to the United Arab Emirates, President Emmanuel Macron told a new conference
on Thursday.
The deal also includes an option for two more vessels, the French presidency said in a statement.
The president's office did not disclose financial details. French arms sales to the Gulf Arab region have surged in recent years as Paris has nurtured new links with Arab states, which appreciate its tough stance on Iran and similar positions on the region's conflicts.
More so, Macron is making a previously unscheduled trip to Saudi Arabia on Thursday to see Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Macron, on a visit to the UAE said it was vital to work with Saudi Arabia for the stability of the region and to fight terrorism.
He told a news conference in Dubai that the decision to go to Riyadh had been made on Thursday morning, and that his talks with the prince would include “regional questions, in particular Yemen and Lebanon”.
