A first for France

I just thought this was rather interesting and one of those pivotal moments in history worth noting...

France takes more assertive role in Gulf with planned military base in the U.A.E.
The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has wrapped up a tour of the Arab Gulf states, signing a number of significant military, nuclear, and economic deals that thrust France into a key regional role.
On Tuesday, agreement was reached with the United Arab Emirates granting France a permanent military base in the Gulf, the first for a Western power other than the United States.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0116/p99s01-duts.html