BRUSSELS, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- France boosts arms exports by 15 percent
French arms exports soared by almost 15 percent in 2008, the French government announced earlier this month.
The new record confirms a rising trend strongly encouraged by current French President Nicolas Sarkozy since he took office.
In 2007 French arms exports reached $7.04 billion. However, in 2008 they reached $8.06 billion (6.3 billion euros), French Defense Minister Herve Morin said last week. In 2006 France sold $6.4 billion in arms exports.
Sarkozy and his administration have focused on rebuilding France's military industrial capabilities and reclaiming the nation's historic position as one of the world's dominant weapons exporters.
After taking office, Sarkozy quickly created a high-level arms sale task force. In October 2007 Morocco refused to buy France's embattled Rafale fighter jet, built by Dassault. Sarkozy then created the new task force that he heads. It also includes the prime minister, the minister of defense, the finance minister, the foreign affairs minister and the commander in chief of the French army.
The task force can direct the rapid creation of tailored arms packages to interested nations. It appears to have been very successful in resuscitating French arms sales. The 2008 sales of 6.3 billion euros surpassed the national target for the year of 6 billion euros. That made it the best year for French arms exports since 2000.
However, in 2008, France lost its position as Europe's biggest weapons exporter to Britain. The United States is still the world leader.
In its attempts to climb past Britain, France hopes to increase sales numbers further in 2009.
In December 2007 Morin announced plans to have France's weapons exports reach a value of $9 billion by 2010.
France's meteoric growth in arms exports has been fueled in large part by Sarkozy's close personal involvement.
In its 2007 deal with Libya, France sold $14.7 billion worth of goods, including $4.4 billion for 21 Airbus airliners. The remaining $10 billion was spent on a civilian nuclear reactor, a desalination plant and different weapons systems.
Sarkozy also has traveled to the Middle East, where he signed deals with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar worth billions of dollars.
France still hopes to sell Dassault Rafale jets to foreign customers
France hopes to further boost its international arms exports by finally creating overseas demand for its long-criticized Rafale fighter jet, manufactured by Dassault.
However, since it first flew in the early 1990s, the Rafale has been bought by no country except France.
In December 2007 Libya signed a deal with France to buy a fleet of them, and Sarkozy also tried to interest the United Arab Emirates in buying the aircraft.
France has entered the Rafale into fighter jet tender contests in Switzerland, India and Brazil in the hope of generating some sales. The French government also has cut some red tape to accelerate the granting of export licenses.
