“The story was as follows – the deal for the Mistral helicopter carriers was 90% ready, their (Russian) crews were already there (in France), the equipment was being tested, but (the United States) said: ‘No, stop, don’t deliver them, you have a bank here with problems worth 14 billion.’ Everyone obeyed all this,” Shoigu told Russia 24 on Tuesday.
In 2011, the Russian company Rosoboronexport and the French company DCNS/STX signed a contract to build and supply two Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia. France was supposed to supply the first ship, named Vladivostok, in 2014, while the second ship, Sevastopol, was expected to be delivered in 2015. However, France refused to supply the two ships, citing developments in the Ukrainian crisis.
France has proposed to return 785 million euros in exchange for cancelling the contract to deliver the two Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia, while Moscow has demanded more than a billion euros.
The amount of compensation that France ultimately paid to Russia has not been officially announced, but high-ranking Russian sources confirmed that France returned 900 million euros to Russia, while a French draft law on the cancellation of the deal stated that Paris paid more than 949.7 billion euros.
Source: Russian media
#Shoigu #reveals #Washington #thwarted #Frances #deal #sell #Mistral #helicopter #carriers #Russia
2024-09-10 16:46:29
Table of Contents
The Mistral Helicopter Carrier Dispute: A Tale of International Politics and Power
In 2011, Russia and France entered into a significant agreement, where France would supply two Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia. The deal was estimated to be worth €1.2 billion (£840 million) [[1]]. However, the agreement was eventually cancelled due to the Ukrainian crisis, leaving both countries in a stalemate.
The Deal and Its Collapse
The contract between Rosoboronexport, a Russian company, and DCNS/STX, a French company, was signed in 2011 [[2]]. The deal stipulated that France would supply two Mistral helicopter carriers, named Vladivostok and Sevastopol, to Russia. The first ship was scheduled to be delivered in 2014, while the second ship was expected to be delivered in 2015. However, as the Ukrainian crisis unfolded, France refused to supply the ships, citing concerns over Russia’s involvement in the conflict.
Russia had already made an advance payment of €893 million for the two ships [[3]]. France, in turn, agreed to reimburse Russia for the cancelled deal. The reimbursement agreement was reached in 2015, with France agreeing to pay back the advance payment to Russia [[2]].
International Pressure and the Role of the United States
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the United States played a significant role in the collapse of the deal [[insert quote]]. Shoigu claims that the US exerted pressure on France to adhere to Western sanctions imposed on Russia, citing the Ukrainian crisis as a reason. The US allegedly threatened to impose significant financial penalties on France, worth $14 billion, if the deal went ahead.
The Aftermath and France’s Search for New Buyers
After cancelling the deal, France began searching for new buyers for the two Mistral helicopter carriers [[1]]. The country was eager to recover its losses and find a new home for the advanced warships. France’s decision to cancel the deal and seek new buyers was seen as a significant diplomatic victory for the United States and its allies.
Conclusion
The story of the Mistral helicopter carrier dispute between Russia and France is a complex web of international politics and power struggles. The deal’s collapse highlights the significant influence of global powers like the United States in shaping international relations and trade agreements. As France continues to search for new buyers for the Mistral ships, the world is reminded of the delicate balance of power in international relations and the far-reaching consequences of geopolitical tensions.
References:
**PAA Questions:**
The Mistral Helicopter Carrier Dispute: A Tale of International Politics and Power
In 2011, Russia and France entered into a significant agreement, where France would supply two Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia. The deal was estimated to be worth €1.2 billion (£840 million) [[1]]. However, the agreement was eventually cancelled due to the Ukrainian crisis, leaving both countries in a stalemate.
The Deal and Its Collapse
The contract between Rosoboronexport, a Russian company, and DCNS/STX, a French company, was signed in 2011 [[2]]. The deal stipulated that France would supply two Mistral helicopter carriers, named Vladivostok and Sevastopol, to Russia. The first ship was scheduled to be delivered in 2014, while the second ship was expected to be delivered in 2015. However, as the Ukrainian crisis unfolded, France refused to supply the ships, citing concerns over Russia’s involvement in the conflict.
Russia had already made an advance payment of €893 million for the two ships [[3]]. France, in turn, agreed to reimburse Russia for the cancelled deal. The reimbursement agreement was reached in 2015, with France agreeing to pay back the advance payment to Russia [[2]].
International Pressure and the Role of the United States
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the United States played a significant role in the collapse of the deal. Shoigu claims that the US exerted pressure on France to adhere to Western sanctions imposed on Russia, citing the Ukrainian crisis as a reason. The US allegedly threatened to impose significant financial penalties on France, worth $14 billion, if the deal went ahead.
The Aftermath and France’s Search for New Buyers
After cancelling the deal, France began searching for new buyers for the two Mistral helicopter carriers [[1]]. The country was eager to recover its losses and find a new home for the advanced warships. France’s decision to cancel the deal and seek new buyers was seen as a significant diplomatic victory for the United States and its allies.
Conclusion
The story of the Mistral helicopter carrier dispute between Russia and France is a complex web of international politics and power struggles. The deal’s collapse highlights the significant influence of global powers like the United States in shaping international relations and trade agreements. As France continues to search for new buyers for the Mistral ships, the world is reminded of the delicate balance of power in international relations and the far-reaching consequences of geopolitical tensions.
References:
[1] https://webdoc.france24.com/mistral-france-russia-warships-saint-nazaire/
[2] https