Just before he lowers himself from a helicopter onto a nuclear submarine, the French President outlines his ideas for Europe’s defense. Macron sees room for improvement, especially with the delays in Franco-German armament projects.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “decisive progress” in the Franco-German armament projects. “Germany is an indispensable partner,” stressed Macron when presenting the French military strategy in Toulon. The success of the EU also depends on the balance of the partnership. In view of the delays in the FCAS joint fighter aircraft system, Macron urged faster action. He expects “decisive progress in the coming weeks”.
Macron reiterated France’s commitment to nuclear deterrence. This forms “the backbone of security” in France and contributes to the security of Europe. “Today more than ever, France’s vital interests also have a European dimension,” said the President. “Our nuclear forces, by their very existence, contribute to the security of France and Europe.” Macron was recently criticized in France when, in a TV interview, he surprisingly clearly ruled out using French nuclear weapons in the event of a Russian nuclear attack on Ukraine.
According to Macron, France sees itself as “a power at the heart of Europe’s strategic autonomy, with strong transatlantic roots and at the same time at the forefront and at the center of the world”. After a prolonged lull in Franco-British relations, the President announced a bilateral meeting on defense in the first half of 2023.
Macron was critical of the project for better European air defense that Germany and other countries had launched, and which France has not yet joined. The air defense of the continent is a strategic and solidarity issue on which the sovereignty of Europe depends and which leads to the promotion of a national industry or that of another country. “So it deserves an inclusive, in-depth approach, based on a strategic analysis that includes all aspects of our defence.” From a German perspective, the Israeli Air Defense System Arrow 3 is an option for the protective shield.
Macron also confirmed the official end of the French Barkhane operation in Mali to fight against Islamist groups in the Sahel. According to the Elysée, the approximately 3,000 French soldiers in Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso should remain there. It is possible, for example, to train and equip soldiers in African partner countries. “We watched as malicious narratives were circulated in Africa (…) by external actors and multiplied by trolls,” Macron said, apparently alluding to Russian troll factories. Defense against hybrid attacks, such as those on the Internet, will have high priority in the future.
The French President delivered his strategy speech on a helicopter carrier near Toulon. He then wanted to be lowered from a helicopter onto a nuclear submarine, similar to what he had done five years earlier. At that time, photos of the action had triggered a lot of ridicule in the online networks.
