UAE, FRANCE DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- France and the United Arab Emirates have sought to improve military cooperation.

Officials said the UAE has mulled a French offer to increase defense and military cooperation with Paris. They said the French proposal called for army, air force and navy exercises as well as training on a range of French-origin platforms.

On Wednesday, France and the UAE completed a major multi-service military exercise. The exercise, which began on Feb. 19, was attended by French Chief of Staff Gen. Henri Bentegeat as well as his UAE counterpart, Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi.

Officials said the exercise, entitled Gulf-2005, included participation of air, ground and naval forces. They said the exercise tested the use of advanced UAE platforms as well as combat doctrines and tactics.