Brazil - France

Sarkozy visits Brazil as Lula mulls over French jet deal

Article published on the 2009-09-07 Latest update 2009-09-07 11:57 TU

Brazil's President Lula da Silva shakes hands with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy at an air base in Brasilia
(Credit: Reuters)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Brazil on a two-day visit on Monday to meet his homologue Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss a lucrative a 2.8-billion euro deal involving the purchase of French warplanes. Sarkozy is the guest of honour for Brazil's Independence Day celebrations taking place today.

Sarkozy arrived on Sunday and met with Lula for dinner and a private talk. French officials say that Lula and Sarkozy are planning to announce a joint venture on the preservation of the Amazon region later Monday.

Lula is expected to decide in the next few weeks which country will be the winner in the bidding war to supply Brazil with 36 fighter jets that will be the backbone of the Brazilian air force for the next 30 years.

France is offering the Dassault company's the Rafale war jet. France is in competition with the US and Sweden for the contract. Lula confirmed to news agency AFP that the Dassault offer had an exception advantage because France has guaranteed sharing its military technology with the South American power.