ALBAWABA - Following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, a claim that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) halted the Rafale fighter jet deal with France has been spreading.
In December 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Abu Dhabi in an official 2-day visit, both countries inked a $19 billion arms deal. The delivery of the jets is expected by 2027.
"This contract cements a strategic partnership that is stronger than ever and directly contributes to regional stability," the French presidency stated regarding the Rafale deal on the sidelines of the Dubai Expo 2020.
Under the deal, the UAE purchased 80 Rafale fighter jets from France and 12 Caracal military helicopters. It is worth mentioning that the Rafale fighter jet is an F4 model.
This is a fake Al Jazeera video that falsely claims the UAE has frozen the purchase of 80 fighter jets from France over the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) August 28, 2024
It's part of a huge pro-Kremlin disinformation operation that churns out fake videos in the name of mainstream outlets. pic.twitter.com/sfTkqHJYj8
Did UAE halt Rafale fighter jets deal with France after Pavel Durov's arrest?
After the arrest of the Telegram CEO, the UAE Foreign Ministry made a statement saying it was closely following the case of Pavel Durov, who was arrested from his private jet at an airport near Paris on Aug. 24.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that prioritising the welfare of UAE citizens, safeguarding their interests, and providing them with all aspects of support is a key priority for the UAE," the statement reads. It is worth mentioning that Pavel Durov holds both Russian and Emirati citizenship.
A fake video circulated on the X platform claiming that the UAE has halted the deal with France after the arrest of the Telegram CEO. No official statement was made by the Emirati government regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal with Paris.
