Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Europe

France's Hollande lobbies Malaysia to buy fighter jets

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • ca2f5119-
    Image 1 of 3

    French President Francois Hollande, left, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak shake hands after a press conference at Seri Perdana Building in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Daniel Chan) (The Associated Press)

  • a4a3057e-
    Image 2 of 3

    French President Francois Hollande, left, listens to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, right, during the press conference at Seri Perdana Building in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Daniel Chan) (The Associated Press)

  • 21bcf527-
    Image 3 of 3

    French President Francois Hollande, center, walks ahead of Malaysian King Sultan Muhammad V and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, right, after inspection of an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, March 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) (The Associated Press)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – French President Francois Hollande has lobbied for the sale of Rafale fighter aircraft to Malaysia during a visit but Prime Minister Najib Razak says his government is not yet ready to make a decision.

Hollande, who arrived in Malaysia on Monday as part of a regional tour, said the Rafale is "the best jet in its category." He said Tuesday after talks with Najib that France will provide all the support needed for Malaysia to make a decision.

Najib said his government isn't ready to make a purchase. He also said that France's Group PSA is in talks with Malaysian carmaker Proton on a possible partnership but didn't give details.

Hollande is the second French president to visit Malaysia after Jacques Chirac's visit in 2003.