8 March, 2024

France is negotiating with Arab countries to return the sold French weapons for further transfer to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced this during a press conference.

Macron said that his country would no longer supply shells and artillery systems to Qatar and Saudi Arabia in order to focus on supporting Ukraine.

Instead, the French government is negotiating with these countries to withdraw the equipment they have supplied and send it to Ukraine.

In addition, according to Macron, the governments of France, Germany, and Italy are also negotiating the return of weapons accumulated by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia over the years.

He emphasized that building up the French army’s stockpile and deliveries to Ukraine would be a priority for France.

Arsenals of the countries of the Middle East

Given Ukraine’s urgent needs, it can be assumed that the main part of the negotiations is devoted to the stockpiles of artillery ammunition in the arsenals of Arab countries.

Given the context, it is also possible that the talks will cover other types of weapons, including artillery systems.

Saudi Arabia is armed with 156 Caesar self-propelled howitzers, as well as about 100 light 105-mm LG1 howitzers.

Caesar self-propelled howitzers of the Saudi Arabian Army

Qatar has a smaller artillery fleet, consisting of two dozen obsolete French 155 mm AMX F3 self-propelled guns and much more modern German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers.

The United Arab Emirates has almost no French artillery system, but has a stockpile of SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles, which were manufactured to meet export restrictions and supplied under the name Black Shaheen.

Black Shaheen cruise missile

The Black Shaheen differs from the original missiles by having a reduced range of 290 km to meet the requirements of the Missile Technology Control Regime.

France is negotiating the transfer of weapons from Arab countries to Ukraine