this way france isn t only exporting weapons but forging permanent relationships with foreign governments. in these export decisions questions of human rights in the purchasing country seem to play only a small role saudi arabia has one of france s most important export partnerships. the war raged by saudi arabia and yemen has claimed many thousands of lives millions of people have been displaced saudi arabia is also known as a state in which human rights are often violated but despite this humanitarian disaster the arms exports continue. in twenty sixteen the french government approved weapons exports to saudi arabia were seven hundred sixty four million euros. for arms control research or twenty four turn one deal is
he always home to one of the few french institutions it s taken a critical look at the government s lobbying on behalf of the defense industry. tony fulton a researcher at all says this lobby is and is part of a larger initiative. there s almost a kind of familial relationship between the arms industry and the state. the expansion of arms exports is given absolute priority because of well you know some time before two thousand and ten france ramped up its weapons exports says explicit really was a new economic strategy and just particularly with respect to the middle east and of the rupee hosses you know them are. more you know. full turn deal with india is emblematic of the problematic nature of state support for the arms industry. during a visit to new delhi then president francois alone to praise d souza fun as the
forces office in bonn gave an address foreign military attachés are also invited journalists are not permitted to attend. this is the i me for this is a sales of the germans arms industry advertise of its products and military attaches bring that back home to their own countries it s not transparent in france but if that s the case with all weapons exports of course nobody wants to talk publicly about the fact that the federal government is promoting weapons exports here. some projects are also receiving concrete support as a directorate titian cork hunts kristoff at spur dean was responsible for a frigate deal with india. he asked defense minister also to fund a lion for help. she gave a prompt reply. during my talks with defense minister. i expressed the fundamental willingness on the part of the german government to provide support.
often want it for so long that if they get it in the short while france has sold multi-mission frigates to morocco and egypt. that it would not hold up part of our mission is to support weapons exports that help expand french influence and help implement our strategic interests. it s that simple. focus. in june twenty fifth a friend forget was officially handed over to egypt the french minister of defense of the time joey revealed attended the ceremony yeah yeah the deal was worth billions but the french navy had to do without a frigate that had originally been built for its own use. this was a blow to the french navy particularly because the firm frigates have a high failure rate. in just four months the french frigate was revamped to suit
a welcoming address the year before major general van advising borger who was then head of the armed forces office in bonn gave an address foreign military attache zur also invited journalists are not permitted to attend. this is the only for this is a sales of the germans arms industry advertise of its products and military attaches bring that back home to their own countries and it s not transparent in front of him that s the case with all weapons exports of course nobody wants to talk publicly about the fact that the federal government is promoting weapons exports here. some projects are also receiving concrete support as a directorate titian corp hunts clist of dean was responsible for a frigate deal with india. he asked defense minister also to fund our line for help . she gave a prompt reply. during my talks with defense minister punny i expressed the