Macron: arms sales to Egypt will not be conditional on improving human rights

French President Emmanuel Macron said today, Monday, that future French arms sales to Egypt will not be conditional on improving human rights there, blaming it on his unwillingness to weaken Cairo’s ability to fight. terrorism in the region.

“I will not link issues of defense and economic cooperation to these (human rights) differences,” Macron said at a joint press conference with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi after the two leaders held talks at the Elysee Palace.

He added: “It is better for us to have a policy that calls for dialogue rather than a boycott, which will only reduce the effectiveness of our partner in fighting terrorism.”

Hours earlier, France welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi with a cavalry parade through Paris.

France views Egypt and its president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as a bulwark against hardline Islamists on the Sinai Peninsula and Libya.