Italy is considering the sale of two FREMM frigates to Egypt, months after it was reported the two countries were close to signing a deal.
The frigates would be drawn from the Italian Navy’s procurement programme – the vessels Spartaco Schergat and Emilio Bianchi, launched in January 2019 and January 2020, respectively – enabling Fincantieri to sell the vessels for an estimated cost of €1.2 billion.
This is according to the Ansa news agency, which reported on 8 June that approval was granted after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday.
In March, Alberto Cutillo, the director of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Military Material Authorization Unit (UAMA), told the Italian parliament that Fincantieri had been given permission to negotiate the sale of the two frigates.