French Defense Minister Herve Morin, currently on a Latin American tour, told Argentine government leaders during a visit to the capital France could help the country recapture its pre-eminence through closer military cooperation with Paris. However, French offers of military technology transfers and other assistance were couched in carefully worded statements. Argentina so far has remained noncommittal but has accepted a French offer to send a delegation that will evaluate Argentina's defense needs.

Analysts said France has been encouraging Argentina to follow the example of Brazil, which has embarked on a multibillion-dollar military modernization program, a major part of it through cooperation with France and purchases from Germany.

Unlike Brazil, which has shown robust economic growth over the past few years and is awash with cash, Argentina's economy has been hit by political bickering and workers' stoppages.

For some years now, the Argentine military has wanted a sweeping modernization of its infrastructure and equipment but has been beaten back by cash shortages.

Analysts said France appears ready to offer Argentina its military hardware and technology transfers on favorable terms to gain a foothold amid continuing Argentine aversion to rebuilding military ties with the United States.

Morin met with his counterpart Nilda Garre and Foreign Secretary Jorge Taiana and later pronounced that Argentina could muster the political will to mold its regional role into an outward-looking international presence in the same way as Brazil.

Argentine analysts, while acknowledging Morin's reasons for comparisons between Argentina and Brazil, believe France needs to handle Argentine sensitivities with greater care.

Morin praised Brazil as the eighth-largest world economy and highlighted its military regeneration and growing international influence.

Argentina, too, will have to reconsider its international standing and military hardware, "at which stage France can be most useful," said Morin, MercoPress reported.

The Argentine Ministry of Defense in a statement following the meeting indicated that although Argentina did not anticipate the purchase of military hardware, it had agreed to a visit next year by a delegation from France's Defense Ministry Arms Department.

The statement said Argentina is one of the regional countries that have most drastically cut their defense budgets -- from $9.2 billion under military rule in 1980 to $2.8 billion. The earlier figure was equivalent to 4.4 percent of Argentina's gross domestic product, compared with just 0.8 percent of GDP at present.

However, the Argentine military is keen to find any alternatives to U.S. military cooperation, especially to refurbish aging aircraft and naval vessels, and to find spare parts or substitutes for its existing inventory and replacements for obsolete hardware.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy recently visited Brazil to secure contracts for the supply of aircraft and submarines, including joint construction of a nuclear-powered submarine.

earlier related report
Brazil-France talks ongoing on fighter jets: minister
Rio De Janeiro (AFP) Nov 3 - Brazil and France are continuing discussions over Brasilia's stated plan to buy 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets, French Defense Minister Herve Morin said on Tuesday.

However Morin, speaking after a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Nelson Jobim in Rio de Janeiro, refused to say whether Brazil was going ahead with the purchase or give a possible date for a firm announcement.

The Rafales, made by Dassault, are seen as the frontrunners in a tender also being contested by Gripen NGs by Sweden's Saab and F/A-18 fighters being aggressively promoted by US company Boeing.

That favorite status was enhanced in early September when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Brazil had started talks to buy the Rafales.

Subsequently though, and under pressure from the Brazilian military, which wants to see the tender through, the final decision has been left hanging as the bidding companies sweeten their offers.

The deal is estimated to be worth between four and seven billion dollars, depending on details of armaments, maintenance and peripheral industrial involvement. Brazil could also end up buying up to another 100 fighter jets from the supplier over the long term.

"Discussions are continuing in a climate of confidence," said Morin.

"We are now awaiting the evaluation by the Brazilian armed forces and then the political decision process," he told reporters.

Brazil has made technology transfer the main priority in the tender, so it can end up being able to make fighter aircraft itself and boost its aviation industry.

France has offered near total access to its technology in its bid. Saab and Boeing have both insisted they will make "key" technology available.

Brazil has a strategic relationship with France, and has already sealed other military deals with Paris worth around 11 billion dollars to buy four submarines and 50 helicopters.

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