https://www.dw.com/en/france-agrees-sale-of-war-planes-to-egypt/a-57418002
On Monday, the Egyptian government confirmed their weapon sale agreement with France. France has agreed to sell various military technologies, most notably 30 Dassault Rafale jets, with the estimated total of the agreement being about $4.5 billion. This agreement has raised many red flags to the international community, specifically the Human Rights Watch. French President Emmanuel Macron has been heightening these worries by stating that human rights were not a condition for the agreement last year. Many have also noted France’s recent pattern of selling this technology to various countries, including Greece, India and Qatar.
While Egypt might not be the biggest international concern, France is fueling it to be. The relationship between France and Egypt goes back to the 1800s, when France occupied Egypt for a couple of years. Both states participate in a bilateral relationship that includes various sectors, such as military and economic deals. Their relationship has only improved as both states choose to ignore each other’s human rights violations and other wrongdoings. This military deal just further establishes their relationship is stronger than ever. France and Egypt have the ability to protect each other against possible threats that possible impact the power dynamic in North Africa.
The Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization, brought up a valid argument in trade agreement: France should have pressured Egypt on the human rights violations before the deal was made. French government officials made it clear that they did not care about that, instead focused on the financial and power aspect. Many states have refused to sell weapons to Egypt because of their lack of economic backbone and their unstable government. France is one of the only states to sell weapons to Egypt as of recent. France gained both economic and territorial control once the deal was signed, while Egypt gained political control in the region through the weapons. These types of controlled sectors can lead to a big conflict among the unsteady region.