Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was ‘livid’ after France begged for help defeating jihadis – then billed us £2million
DEFENCE Secretary Gavin Williamson was “livid” after France begged for help defeating jihadis – then billed us for £2million.
French officials tried to charge the MoD the cash to fly spares and kit on their transport aircraft.
Insiders said the move made Williamson so angry he threatened to ground the three RAF Chinook choppers we sent to help them in Mali.
It is the second time the French have welched on a deal to save cash.
They also “reneged” on a move to support a Nato mission in Estonia.
The choppers and almost 100 British troops arrived in Mali last month to help the French battle a host of jihadi groups in the Sahel region.
But when the UK requested to fly spares to the mission on French air transport, they said we’d have to pay, sources say.
A senior Whitehall insider said: “We could not believe it.
"They begged for help, we give it, and then they want to charge us for keeping the mission running.
“The French can’t fight their own wars — now they won’t even help out those who help them.
It sent Williamson livid – he threatened to ground the whole fleet.”
Rather than pay their French allies, the UK instead opted to use an EU pooled transport system, which charges by the crate.
As part of the deal to bolster France’s mission in Africa, codenamed Operation Barkhane, they had previously been asked, and agreed, to deploy French troops to Estonia for 12 months to ward off Russian aggression.
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But after agreeing to the Nato deployment in the Baltic, they then said their forces would only deploy for nine months, sources said.
Last night the MoD was desperate to underline the UK and France remain strong allies — despite internally seething over their antics.
An MoD spokesman said: “We will continue to strengthen our deep defence relationship with France.”
The Sun Says
DEFENCE Secretary Gavin Williamson was right to stand up to France after they tried to bill us £2million for helping them stamp out a jihadi insurrection in Mali.
Mr Williamson reportedly threatened to ground our choppers in retaliation. Good.
The French also reneged on a deal to support a Nato mission in Estonia.
As their closest military ally in Europe, we deserve better.
Otherwise, next time, Mr Williamson will be entitled to say: “Zut alors! No more!”