By: Pierre Tran
PARIS — French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian traveled to India Thursday for a scheduled meeting on Sept. 23, as requested by President François Hollande, said the Ministry of Defence spokeswoman Valérie Lecasble.
The minister’s travel plan has raised hopes France will sign Friday an agreement with India for the sale of 36 Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets in a deal widely reported to be worth €7.87 billion ($8.8 billion).
Lecasble declined to comment on whether Le Drian would be signing a deal and the value of the expected acquisition, instead pointing to a statement from the French president's office.
However, an official with the Indian Ministry of Defence, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Le Drian will meet his Indian counterpart, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, on Sept. 23 to sign an intergovernmental agreement for the Rafale jets. He would not provide further details.
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