France lands 1.1 billion euros armoured vehicle deal from Belgium

French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly leaves the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, June 22, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

PARIS (Reuters) - France welcomed a strategic cooperation deal with Belgium under which Belgium will buy 60 armoured Jaguar vehicles and 417 Griffon multi-role armoured vehicles worth 1.1 billion euros (1 billion pounds).

French Army Minister Florence Parly said in a statement on Friday evening the decision reflected "the great strategic and operational proximity of our two countries."