France deployed some 1,500 troops, warplanes and warships in the
10-day
manoeuvres, code-named "Pearl of West 2000," which were
carried out by
ground, air and naval units from both countries with
live firing.
"The aim of these manoeuvres was to strengthen the cooperation
between both
countries, and they are the largest joint military
exercises with France," Kuwaiti
Major-General Khaled al-Rodeini told
reporters.
Senior officials and visiting foreign military officers watched at
this exercise
range, usually used by American troops, as French
Mirage 2000 and Kuwaiti
U.S.-made F/A-18 warplanes flew over French
and Kuwaiti fighting vehicles
and pounded a mock enemy.
The officials were later taken to Falaikah Island to watch amphibious
forces
storm the strategic island at the north of the Gulf waterway
as special forces
descended from helicopters on ropes to secure the
area.
"There was mutual planning and organisation of the exercises, which
showed the
good relations we have with France, with whom we have a
security agreement,"
Kuwaiti Chief-of-Staff General Ali al-Mo'men
said.
The United States and Britain maintain a year-round military
presence.
France has pulled out of Operation Southern Watch, which involves
fighter
patrols over southern Iraq to enforce a no-fly zone, still
continued by the United
States and Britain. France has objected to
repeated attacks by the two on Iraqi
targets.
"These military exercises express France's commitment to the security
of
Kuwait and the Gulf region," French ambassador to Kuwait Patrice Paoli said.
The exercises are part of wider French Gulf manoeuvres, launched
earlier this
month in the United Arab Emirates with 5,500 French
troops, 30 warplanes, the
aircraft carrier Foch, three other
warships, a submarine, tanks and artillery.
It is the strongest show of the French flag in the Gulf since France
joined the
U.S.-led Gulf War which ended Iraq's seven-month
occupation of Kuwait, nine
years ago this week.
>