Posted on 04/23/2015 1:11:44 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
PARIS—France said it is weighing the option of giving Moscow a refund for a €1.2 billion ($1.29 billion) contract to supply the Russian navy with two warships, whose delivery has been put on hold amid the conflict in Ukraine.
French President François Hollande said he would discuss the contract with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Armenia, where world leaders will gather to mark the 100th anniversary of the killing and forced deportation of more than 1.5 million ethnic Armenians.
Mr. Hollande suspended the delivery of two Mistral class warships to Russia last fall after the U.S. and other Western allies warned that the vessels would strengthen Russia’s military at a time of increasing tensions over the Kremlin’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Since then, Mr. Hollande has kept the Kremlin in limbo, neither fulfilling the contract or canceling it.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Some thought...that Canada might step up and buy two...scheduled for Russia...
It would be sweet irony if Canada bought those ships originally destined for Russia and used them as Arctic sovereignty patrol support vessels.
Canada doesn't need them.
Canada isn’t in the warship buying game.
I am well aware of my nation’s delusions of grandeur regarding major (and minor for that matter) naval asset acquisitions.
Actually LD, yes we DO need them or something similar. The Rooskies are threatening our Northernmost waters. The only way to counter them is to assert our presence. WE have to project force into areas that most nations couldn’t dream of, with a total armed force consisting of under 60,000 souls, most of whom can’t wait to get out and find a civilian job to supplement their pension.
I could say more, but I will not compromise my position.
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