France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary have signed a protocol on joint procurement of Mistral air defense systems, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Thus, France was able to persuade some of its allies to consider a defense strategy centered on European systems as an alternative to the German-led plan to jointly acquire air defense systems, some of them from outside Europe.

France wants an alternative to the German defense plan

The deal was a sign that France is making progress in persuading some of its European allies to focus on domestic systems made in Europe instead of buying from outside Europe, as Germany has argued in its so-called European Sky Shield initiative.

Sources said the letter was signed at the start of a meeting of defense ministers in Paris aimed at coordinating European efforts to improve air defense capabilities on the continent following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Last October, Germany angered France when it announced a plan with 14 NATO allies to buy systems partly owned by the US and Israel to protect allied territory from missile attacks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Since then, some 17 countries, including the Baltic states, Britain and several Eastern European states that have traditionally turned to the US for military equipment, have joined Berlin.

Germany left open the possibility of France joining the group, adding the Franco-Italian MAMBA system to the possible list of air defense systems available to Sky Shield members. But France refused to join, and the issue became a point of contention between Berlin and Paris.