News

Military Loan Agreement With France Approved by Egypt’s Parliament

Military Loan Agreement With France Approved by Egypt’s Parliament

12308617_1284343798258623_463697412561391186_n

A defense loan agreement between the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and a number of French banks has been approved by Egypt’s newly elected parliament, state-owned Ahram Online reports.

Led by Crédit Agricole for Companies and Investment, the French banks are to provide loans worth billions of euros to Egypt with the aim of propping up the country’s armed forces, a parliamentary report cited by Ahram Online stated.

“These banks will provide a cash loan of ‎‎3375.54 million [3.375 billion] euros, representing 60 percent of the value of French military equipment ‎that will be delivered to Egypt,” read the report.

The report also disclosed, “The total value of ‎this equipment is estimated at 5625.9 million [5.625 billion] ‎euros, with Egypt to pay the remaining 40 ‎per cent.”

Explaining that the loan is necessary in strengthening the capabilities of the Egyptian military, spokespersons from a number of political parties represented in Egypt’s parliament said that their MPs voted in favor of the loan agreement.

MP and former intelligence officer Sameh Seif Al-Yazal said that “as far as I know this equipment ‎aims to beef up the army’s powers against ‎terrorist groups in the Sinai peninsula.”‎

Alaa Abed, the spokesperson of the liberal-leaning Free ‎Egyptians Party held the same position, saying that his party hopes that the agreement will aid Egypt’s armed forces to combat terrorism in the restive North Sinai Peninsula.

MP Nemaat Rashad from the Sinai called on the parliament to send delegations to the peninsula in order to get a better idea about “what is going on there.”

“Sinai is going through hard times ‎and every day a police or army ‎officer is being killed at the hands of terrorists. ‎Parliament should hurry up and send a ‎delegation to Sinai to explore what is going on ‎there,” Rashad said.

Egypt has recently sought to diversify its sources of military supplies, particularly following the United States’ temporary withdrawal of military cooperation as a result of the overthrow of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, which was spearheaded by current president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In addition to France, from whom Egypt has bought Mistral warships and Rafael fighter jets, Russia has become one of the main suppliers Cairo has turned to for its military needs. Russia has supplied Egypt with a range of equipment, including MiG-29 fighter jets, a Molnya missile corvette, Tor and Buk surface-to-air missile launchers, Antey-2500 surface to air missile systems and, recently, 46 Ka-52K attack helicopters.

Most recently, Egypt signed a joint military cooperation agreement with Cyprus on Monday, which is the latest in a string of agreements with the small island country.

Nadeem Center Issues New Report on Interior Ministry Violations Amid Government-Ordered Closure
Egyptian Wins World Weightlifting Championship for Disabled Athletes


Subscribe to our newsletter


News

More in News

Egypt's Central Bank in Cairo courtesy of Reuters

Central Bank of Egypt Raises Key Interest Rates by 2%

Amina Zaineldine30 March 2023

Egypt’s Former Ministry of Interior to be Turned into a Hotel

Dina Khadr30 March 2023

Egypt Joins New Development Bank to Find Alternative Forms of Finance

Egyptian Streets30 March 2023

Egypt Introduces New Measures for Visas to Increase Tourism

Egyptian Streets29 March 2023

Egypt’s Public Prosecution Gives Temporary Custody to Baby Shenouda’s Adoptive Family

Farah Rafik29 March 2023

Egypt Defeats Malawi 4-0 in 2023 African Cup Qualifiers

Marina Makary28 March 2023

Egypt to Get Its Very Own Fashion Week For the First Time

Egyptian Streets26 March 2023

Egypt Defeats Malawi 2-0 in Qualifiers for Africa Cup of Nations

Farah Rafik25 March 2023