Cameron turns salesman for British fighter jets
6 Nov 2012 8:36 AM IST
Aiming to boost his country's arms sales to oil-rich Gulf states, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has embarked on a three-day visit to the Middle East to push for the sale of as many as 100 British-made fighter jets worth billions. Cameron, who has arrived in UAE, will promote the new Eurofighter Typhoons - which are partly made in Britain - to Saudi Arabia and Oman also.
The British embassy tweeted that Cameron had arrived in the United Arab Emirates ‘for a series of meetings.’ It later tweeted that he had breakfasted with British troops based in the Gulf state. According to a statement by Cameron's office, the prime minister, after his arrival, was to accompany senior Emirati officials on an inspection of RAF Typhoons stationed at a UAE airbase as part of a training exercise.
The visit to the UAE, to be followed by a stopover in Saudi Arabia, ‘signals the PM's commitment to cementing long-term partnerships with two of Britain's most important strategic allies in the Gulf,’ the statement said.
UK media reports have said the trip is to give push to British defence industry.According to the Daily Telegraph, any new contracts would be a significant boost for BAE Systems, the UK's flagship defence manufacturer.
The British embassy tweeted that Cameron had arrived in the United Arab Emirates ‘for a series of meetings.’ It later tweeted that he had breakfasted with British troops based in the Gulf state. According to a statement by Cameron's office, the prime minister, after his arrival, was to accompany senior Emirati officials on an inspection of RAF Typhoons stationed at a UAE airbase as part of a training exercise.
The visit to the UAE, to be followed by a stopover in Saudi Arabia, ‘signals the PM's commitment to cementing long-term partnerships with two of Britain's most important strategic allies in the Gulf,’ the statement said.
UK media reports have said the trip is to give push to British defence industry.According to the Daily Telegraph, any new contracts would be a significant boost for BAE Systems, the UK's flagship defence manufacturer.
Next Story
