Madrid - Spain is seeking a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which would involve the sale of more than 100 Leopard 2E tanks to the Gulf country, government sources said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Defence Minister Carme Chacon discussed the deal with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Sultan in Madrid.
The possible deal was due to be discussed further at a meeting of a Saudi-Spanish defence cooperation commission later this month.
Press reports described the eventual deal as one of the biggest arms deals ever in Spain.
Estimated to be worth more than 3-billion euros (about R29.2-billion), the deal would involve the sale of up to 270 Leopard 2E tanks made by Santa Barbara, a Spanish affiliate of the US defence conglomerate General Dynamics, the daily El Pais reported earlier.
Spain is already cooperating with the Saudi armed forces by training Saudi pilots at the military base of Moron de la Frontera near Seville.
The United States recently announced an arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth up to 60 billion dollars that included advanced fighter jets, helicopters, missiles and other weaponry and equipment.
Sapa-dpa