PARIS — France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary signed a letter of intent for the joint purchase of the French Mistral air defense systems, two sources aware of the matter said on Monday. The deal was a sign France was making progress in convincing some of its European allies to look at home-grown, Made in Europe systems, instead of procuring from outside Europe, as Germany has advocated under its so-called European Sky Shield initiative The sources said the letter was signed at the start of a defense ministers meeting in Paris aimed at coordinating European efforts to enhance air defense capabilities across the continent after Russia invaded Ukraine.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1790742/five-european-states-sign-letter-of-intent-to-buy-mistral-air-defense-systems-sources

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