France offering Rafale fighters to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan?

Multiple media reports suggest that France is offering the Dassault Rafale to the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and have been working on a sales campaign for “several months.” The reported sales effort forms part of a wider French effort to strengthen its bilateral ties with both nations. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited France between November 21-22, 2022, with Kazakh President Kassim-Jomart Tokayev following on November 29-30. More recently, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on