Publication
11 Oct 2010
The negotiations over Russia’s purchase of French Mistral-class multipurpose assault ships, which were intensified in 2010, have gained a significant political dimension. The prospects of such a spectacular acquisition of large and expensive assault ships from one of NATO’s member states are being used by Russia to demonstrate that it has opened a new stage of relations with Western Europe. Paris has welcomed Russia’s desire to embark on military cooperation; for France, the Mistral deal has become a convenient tool to prove that relations with Russia are becoming increasingly normal, and that Russia poses no threat to the European security.
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English (PDF, 4 pages, 143 KB) |
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Author | Piotr Żochowski |
Series | OSW Commentary |
Issue | 41 |
Publisher | Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) |
Copyright | © 2010 Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) |