France Creates Artificial ‘Hype’ Around Mistrals' Potential Buyers

France has attempted to take advantage of the canceled Mistral deal with Russia by creating an artificial hype around potential buyers for the warships, a Russian think tank spokesperson specializing in weapon sales said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, French Senator Helene Conway-Mouret told Sputnik that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Canada and Singapore had expressed interest in buying France's Mistral-class helicopter carriers, initially set to be delivered to Russia.

"Now, it is beneficial for France to create an impression in the media as if the international buyers were ready to fight for the Mistrals. I believe, in fact they are not. It would be quite a long story, and France is unlikely to quickly resell these ships," the spokesman of the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT) told RIA Novosti.

Paris will have to make serious efforts to find a new buyer, as it will take lengthy and complex negotiations on various issues, including price and readjustment of the ships for new owners, he added.

On Wednesday, Paris and Moscow formally terminated the 2011 deal on construction and delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers. In November 2014, France suspended the contract, citing Moscow's alleged participation in the Ukrainian internal conflict. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Just hours after the deal was canceled, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said several countries had expressed an interest in buying the warships, without giving details.