The Ministry of Defence’s decision to scrap the ongoing negotiations for the purchase of 197 helicopters from the European firm, EADS (European Aerospace and Defence Systems), has led to a wave of diplomatic protests.
France, Germany protest move to scrap Eurocopter purchase agreement
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Defence’s decision to scrap the ongoing negotiations for the purchase of 197 helicopters from the European firm, EADS (European Aerospace and Defence Systems), has led to a wave of diplomatic protests from Germany and France over the past 24 hours.
The two governments hold significant stakes in the European consortium, which also manufactures Airbus and satellites.
According to sources in the European diplomatic community here, the national security advisers of both Germany and France called up their Indian counterpart MK Narayanan on Thursday to protest the Indian decision. The Indian ambassador to Paris was summoned by the foreign ministry there to lodge its protest too.
The nearly Rs4,000-crore contract would have been the most significant military deal from India for the Europeans in recent times. And the French side had hoped to sign the contract when President Nicolas Sarkozy comes to India next month as chief guest of the Republic Day parade.
The Europeans allege it is a decision that would ultimately favour the Americans. American Bell Aircraft Corporation had lost out to the European firm’s Eurocopter in the technical trials.
Over the next few weeks, the European side would be mounting diplomatic pressure and conveying their dismay as a host of scheduled visits gets under way, peaking with Sarkozy’s in January-end.
The Indo-French Defence High Committee is expected to meet in about 10 days, and “it would be a good opportunity to convey our dismay,” says a European official. ‘
Sources in the diplomatic community told DNA that the French and German governments were engaged in consultations to decide what diplomatic steps to take to protest against what they view as a partisan decision.
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