Talks scheduled for today by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his French counterpart Francois Hollande are predicted to focus on economic and military cooperation.
France 24 reported that Sisi was scheduled to have lunch with Hollande at the Elysée palace then meet with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
France is the second stop in Sisi’s first trip to Europe, which started this week in Rome.
“Civil rights are unlikely to be the focus of discussions, with both leaders intent on seeing greater military cooperation and economic investment between the two countries,” the channel’s website reported.
Talks are expected to tackle military aid to Egypt, represented in a 1 billion euros Gowind battleships deal to the Egypt’s Navy, in addition to the renewal of Egypt’s stock of French-built Mirage 2,000 fighter jets, unnamed sources told AFP this week.
Sisi had earlier told France 24 that future deals with France “depend on the French understanding of the Egypt's security needs given the economic situation and the facilities France is willing to offer Egypt.”
