Mistral
US ambassador in Moscow approves French Mistral warships sale to Russia
May 04, 2010By Vladimir Socor On April 28 in Moscow, US Ambassador, John Beyrle, justified the proposed sale of four French Mistral warships to Russia. Interviewed by the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily newspaper, Beyrle stated: “The only question [about the Mistral...
James Jones: Washington has no problems with sale of French warship to Russia
March 31, 2010By Vladimir Socor Franco-Russian warship deal receives winks and nods in Brussels and Washington French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s US visit has carefully been protected against any fallout from his proposed sale of Mistral-class power-projection...
March 08, 2010Wanted: a Cassandra for NATO. Never before has the world's most successful defense alliance looked or sounded more complacent. On March 3, addressing France's crystallizing plans to sell up to four Mistral-type helicopter carriers to Russia, NATO Secretary...
Medvedev in Paris: Vive la Georgie, Monsieur!
March 02, 2010By Vladimir Socor Alexander II, Tsar of Russia, visited France at the invitation of Emperor Napoleon III in 1867, three years after the Russian army’s bloody suppression of Poland’s revolt for independence. The French emperor, political establishment...
French-Russian warship deal making waves among NATO allies
February 10, 2010By Ahto Lobjakas The French daily "Le Monde" broke the news on February 9: Paris had "agreed in principle" to negotiate the sale of one or more "Mistral"-class ships to Russia. If the sale goes through, it will be the...
Mistral: A cold French wind blows East
November 24, 2009By David J. Smith The French Navy amphibious assault ship Mistral—named for a cold French wind—visits Saint Petersburg today. This is not just a port call; it is a sales call—with ominous geopolitical implications. "We plan...
French Ship Sale to Russia Must Be Blown Off Course
November 18, 2009By David J. Smith The French Navy amphibious assault ship Mistral will visit Saint Petersburg, Russia next week. This port call signals that Franco-Russian relations thrive despite the fifteen months since the Russian invasion of Georgia during which...