France solicits Renault to build drone factory in Ukraine
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Renault is in talks with France’s Defense Ministry to possibly produce drones, as Paris looks to boost military aid for Ukraine and tap into domestic industry for defense innovation.
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Newly manufactured cars are parked outside Renault factory on the outskirts of Tangier, Morocco, Monday, April 29, 2024 (AP)
Reuters reported on Sunday that French automaker Renault was approached by the French Defense Ministry to explore the possibility of producing drones, as part of a broader push to scale up military support for Ukraine.
The outreach follows recent remarks by government officials indicating France's intent to harness domestic industrial capacity in aid of Ukraine's war effort.
"We have been contacted by the defence ministry about the possibility of producing drones. Discussions have taken place, but no decision has been taken at this stage, as we are awaiting further details on this project from the ministry," Renault confirmed in a statement to Reuters.
This development comes on the heels of a Franceinfo report alleging that Renault is expected to help manufacture drones in Ukraine.
The French Defense Ministry, while not naming any specific companies, acknowledged discussions were underway and stated it was the role of each manufacturer to confirm or deny their involvement.
War Economy
Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, in an interview on French news channel LCI on Friday, stated that a partnership was being arranged between a "major French carmaker" and a smaller defence firm to set up drone production lines inside Ukraine.
He added that Ukrainian workers would be trained to run the assembly lines, supplying both Ukraine's own armed forces and potentially France's.
Read more: Russia nationalizes assets of French Renault
The initiative is part of a broader shift toward what President Emmanuel Macron and Lecornu have described as a "war economy," aiming to mobilize civilian industry for accelerated military output in light of the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, drones have become central to Ukraine's defense strategy, playing a crucial role in both surveillance and strike operations.
While Renault has not confirmed its participation in overseas manufacturing, the talks represent a significant pivot in France's approach.
Renault’s potential involvement in drone production echoes its history during WWI, when it produced tanks for European powers in a different era of imperial conflict.
Today, critics argue, the company risks being conscripted into an aggressive Western war machine that prioritizes confrontation over stability.
