France in the arms market with tanks and training

As president Giscard d'Estaing stopped off in Abu Dhabi this month on his way to the Pacific, Defence Minister Yvon Bourges was eagerly negotiating a new round of French arms contracts with the Saudis. The French have in mind an integrated deal to equip, organize and train three armoured brigades. The purpose behind the bid to sell arms to Saudi Arabia is to cover their oil import bill.