France says defence budget to stay near 2 pct/GDP

PARIS, June 30 (Reuters) France's defence budget will remain at around two percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) although some programmes might be delayed or abandoned, defence minister Herve Morin said in a newspaper interview published today.

Morin, who became defence minister last month after Nicolas Sarkozy won the presidential election, also reiterated in an interview with Le Figaro that France was still working with Britain on the building of new aircraft carriers.

With Britain looking for new ships in 2012 and 2015 and France needing one around the same time, the two sides are looking at how to combine their efforts.

Morin added France would also carry out a review of its military equipment needs.

He also confirmed that French troops would remain in Afghanistan for the time being.

REUTERS SBC PM1530