[FRA]: Message to South Africa

[Ellie]

Encrypted and Secret
​

To: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
From: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs

Dear Mrs. Sisulu,

I hope that write this at a good time for both yourself and your government.

My name is Jean-Yves Le Drian, I am the Minister of European and Foreign Affairs for the Fifth Republic of France. It is my hope that I am able to begin diplomatic relations, trade, and perhaps militaristic relations between France and the Republic of South Africa.

I will wait for your reply in hopes that this idea suits you and your government.

Kindest regards,
Jean-Yves Le Drian
Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
The Fifth Republic of France

@Lavenderdame

 

[Lavenderdame]

Private and Encrypted

To: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
From: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Minister Le Drian,

Thank you for writing to me, the transfer of power from the ANC-dominated political system has been smooth so far and South Africa is eager to play its part of the world stage. Historically our two countries were great trade partners and we would be willing to reestablish that trade relationship. If you are willing to provide the ships, South Africa's principle exports are precious metals and gems, including gold, platinum and diamonds; raw ores; mineral fuels including petrol; automobiles; and processed iron and steel.

On the topic of trade, we have taken note of your country's decision to ban the Swedish Storhet Auktioner. We've had our own contact with them and found their methods rather aggressive. Could you give me some background on France's decision to take such a drastic move?

Best regards,
Lindiwe Sisulu
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Republic of South Africa

@Ellie

 

[Ellie]

Encrypted and Secret​

To: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
From: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs

Dear Minister Sisulu,

They have contacted you? That is not good news, I'm afraid to say.

Storhet Auktioner contacted our Minister of Defence, Florence Parly, and tried to sell some French planes to us at a reduced price of its production. All seemed rather well and a good deal, however, when we asked for Storhet Auktioner to provide us some documentation of their purchase of the French planes (for legal reasons), they denied us and told us only that they purchased the planes from Vietnam. Now, this brought up some major red flags as France has no documentation of Vietnam ever legally coming into possession of these planes or the rights to produce them. So we pressed forward with our questioning of the company, in return, they insulted us and accused France of trying to do nothing more than use Storhet Auktioner as a bridge to begin political drama against Vietnam. Which we had no intentions in doing. Furthermore, they accused First Choice International (publicly, on Twitter) of having a cover-up due to First Choice not replying to Storhet's quite immature and aggressive demand.

The Swedish company has proved itself to be a shady business when it blamed other companies of covering things up and denying to show any evidence of their own when asked to. Those planes as far as France is concerned were purchased illegally and Storhet is trying their best to sell those illegal planes to other countries that they believe, would not pass up such a 'good deal'.

I do not want it to sound as though I am telling South Africa what to do but I would not be trusting Storhet Auktioner with any of my nation's money. The rest of my government agreed with me and thus we banned the untrustworthy company from doing business on French soil to protect our government and French businesses from being scammed in any way.

Now, as for trade, I am happy to hear that South Africa is willing to do so with France. I would also congratulate your government and its election and I hope that you bring South Africa to the honorable stage that it deserves. France would be willing to import raw ores and mineral fuels. We can provide the ships. As for French exports, for once South Africa produces its own ships, our biggest exports are machinery and transportation equipment, aircrafts, plastics, iron and steel, and pharmaceutical products.

Kindest regards,
Jean-Yves Le Drian
Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
The Fifth Republic of France

@Lavenderdame

 

[Lavenderdame]

Private and Encrypted

To: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
From: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Minister Le Drian,

That is excellent to hear. If you are willing, a two-way trade route using the same ship would be more efficient, would it not? South Africa would love to import more machinery and aircraft from France.

As for the Storhet issue, we've conducted our own investigation into the origin of hardware that the company has offered us: Dassault 2000EI Fighters. We've traced them back to Taiwan where, in 2012, the Taiwanese government publicly advertised 30 aircraft of that make and model for sale. Storhet publicly inquired about the equipment and in that time period we found a wire transfer from Storhet to Taiwan for the sum of $450,000,000.00, with the stated purpose "purchase of military assets."

As far as we can tell, the trail stops in Taiwan, but it is interesting that Storhet would attempt to mislead the French government into believe they came from Vietnam instead. To what purpose that would serve I do not know but I hope that this information is of some interest to you. We will steer clear of them in the future. Their lack of transparency is worrying, to say the least, for a company in their industry.

Best regards,
Lindiwe Sisulu
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Republic of South Africa

@Ellie

 

[Ellie]

Encrypted and Secret​

To: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
From: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs

Dear Minister Sisulu,

I would agree, the same ship for exports and imports would be sufficient. How does the Port of Cape Town sound for the French ship importing from France and exporting to France?

This new information that South Africa has uncovered is quite interesting indeed. We brought our attention to Vietnam after Storhet Auktioner had told us of acquiring the planes from them, it would seem that we completely overlooked Taiwan. Why they would attempt to mislead us is indeed interesting and we will continue our investigation in the company. Thank you for the information.

I am glad that South Africa will be avoiding them, it would be disappointing to hear that a nation has fallen to their worrying tactics. If there's anything that France could do for South Africa, then simply ask. Perhaps we could sell you the rights to produce French jets domestically?

Kindest Regards,
Jean-Yves Le Drian
Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
The Fifth Republic of France

@Lavenderdame

 

[Lavenderdame]

Private and Encrypted

To: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
From: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Minister Le Drian,

Thank you for the offer, however we have already found a supplier for our current generation fighter programme. We are, however, looking for partners for the next stage of our naval rearmament. In the next few months we would like to expand our blue-water capabilities through the introduction of a flagship aircraft carrier and pair of attack submarines to compliment our domestic Valour-class frigate.

The French Charles de Gaulle-class carrier and Barracuda-class submarines fit our needs perfectly, if you are open to the concept, we would like to purchase the domestic production rights to both for $1,000,000,000 USD, or a cash sum and rights so some of South Africa's leading edge military products such as the Valour-class frigate, RG 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 MRAP vehicles, among others.

Please let me know what you think of this arrangement.

Best regards,
Lindiwe Sisulu
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Republic of South Africa

@Ellie

 

[Ellie]

Encrypted and Secret ​

To: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
From: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs

Dear Minister Sisulu,

I am glad to hear that South Africa was able to find a supplier for current generation fighters.

Unfortunately, the Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier along with French submarines are constructed by the Naval Group (DCNS), who have been purchased by First Choice International. Which means, that while France is able to construct these naval ships without repercussions, France is not legally allowed to sell those products nor the rights of production for them. However, we would be able to sell the rights of production of the Clemenceau-class Aircraft Carrier, the PR-72P-class Corvette, Al Madinah-class Guided Missile Frigate, Floréal-class frigate, Georges Leygues-class frigate, and the Durance-class Oil Replenishment Tanker. If any of those suit South Africa then let me know and we will be able to figure out a price.

As for the Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier along with any French submarine, South Africa would need to purchase them directly from First Choice International.

Kindest regards,
Jean-Yves Le Drian
Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
The Fifth Republic of France
@Lavenderdame

 

[Lavenderdame]

Private and Encrypted

To: Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs
From: Mrs. Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Minister Le Drian,

Thank you for the heads-up regarding the First Choice issue. We will need some time to review our options but we will be in touch. If there is anything that you need from South Africa, do not hesitate to ask.

Best regards,
Lindiwe Sisulu
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Republic of South Africa