Spain is negotiating with Saudi Arabia what could become its biggest ever arms deal, the daily El Pais said Monday.
The deal, estimated to be worth more than 3 billion euros (4.2 billion dollars), would involve the sale of up to 270 Leopard 2E tanks made in Seville by Santa Barbara, a Spanish affiliate of the US defence conglomerate General Dynamics, according to El Pais, dpa reported.
"We neither confirm nor deny this information," a spokesman for the Defence Ministry commented.
Spain was hoping to seal the deal during the visit in early November of Saudi Defence Minister Khaled bin Sultan, who is pushing for the modernization of the Saudi armed forces, the daily said.
Bin Sultan was expected to meet Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos.
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.
The deal with one of the closest US allies in the Middle East was the largest US arms deal ever.