France selling two Mistral class carriers to Egypt instead of Russia. CNN

A Mistral class helicopter carrier. CNN/AFP/Getty.

France is going to sell the two Mistral class helicopter carriers, originally contracted to Russia, to Egypt instead. CNN. The former contract with Russia, worth $1.3 billion, fell apart after Russia's actions in Ukraine. The Mistrals are powerful helicopter carriers with room for up to six landing pads, 24 helicopters and up to 500 troops. Egypt is getting a better deal then the Russians would have and are only being charged $1 billion. France will also provide training for the Egyptian sailors who will crew the vessels. Egypt doesn't really have a pressing need for the carriers but they will be useful in the fight against ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula. They will also strengthen ties between the two countries. Russia will be fully reimbursed for any costs and any Russian equipment left on the ship will be returned. 

My Comment:

I always wondered who would end up with these ships. I was not suspecting Egypt to be the one that would buy them. I figured it would be Canada, the UK or maybe that France would just keep them. I am sure France could have found some way to get use out of them. Still, selling them is understandable. Selling to Egypt? I guess it makes sense. After all, they are still getting $1 billion for them. I can't think of any reason for France not to sell these ships to Egypt. 

As for Egypt, I am not so sure this was a wise idea. After all, they don't exactly have a lot of money right now. Their economy is going to take a hit as far as tourism is concerned, both due to the fact that ISIS is very active in the country and the fact that the Egyptian government screwed up and killed a bunch of innocent Mexican tourists recently. My question is how are they going to pay for these ships? My guess is that they will just use foreign military aid to pay for it...

So what will they use these ships for? The article mentioned that they could use them as a mobile base against ISIS in the Sinai. I think that is a real possibility. After all, ISIS has a recent history in Egypt of attacking bases and checkpoints. It would be useful to have one that should be immune to ISIS terrorist attacks. Even if ISIS had boats they would have a very hard time attacking this ship due to its helicopters and what I am assuming will be strong naval support. That's an obvious advantage for Egypt in a war that seems to be heating up.

But there is another possibility that I think CNN missed. Egypt is involved in the war in Yemen. Obviously, Saudi Arabia is the senior partner in the conflict, but Egypt is playing a role as well. Though the war could conceivably be over by the time these ships are up and running, in all likelihood it will still be going on. Their use would be obvious, especially since the Houthi's don't have much in the way of anti-air capability. 

These ships will also serve as a deterrent to Iran, who does not have any carrier capability at all. Sure it won't be a huge deterrent as these ships are less aircraft carriers and more helicopter and troop ships but it is better then nothing. Iran is positioning itself to be the leader of the Muslim world and the Sunni countries in the Gulf are understandably upset at the prospect. This is part of a larger military buildup to counter Iranian ambitions. Egypt isn't the only country in the region that is buying weapons, and it would not have been surprising if Saudi Arabia, or one of the smaller Arab nations had bought these ships instead.

As for Russia I never really understood the argument for not letting them have this ships. After all they were willing to pay for it. Sure they were involved in the war in Ukraine but I never thought they should be punished for it. At least not this way. These carriers would not have played a role in the war there so there isn't much of a reason to end this sale other then pure spite. But that seems to be the West's policy towards Russia right now anyways. Pure spite...