France’s Charles-de-Gaulle Aircraft Carrier Joins NATO Command for the First Time
The Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier, the most important ship in the French fleet, is set to come under NATO operational control for the first time on a 15-day mission in the Mediterranean Sea, a symbol of Paris’ reinforced commitment to the North Atlantic Alliance against Russia, as reported by AFP and cited by News.ro.
This mission, involving vessels from several NATO member states, the United States, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, will take place from April 26 to May 10 under the command of the NATO Maritime StrikforNato Headquarters, consisting of 15 NATO member states, including France, led by an American vice admiral, announces the French army’s General Staff.
“It is the first time that we are placing the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle and its entire escort, including a nuclear attack submarine, under NATO operational control for 15 days,” emphasizes French vice admiral Didier Maleterre, the second in command at NATO’s maritime command.
However, “we can revoke the mandate at any time and with a snap of a finger, take back national command during operations if necessary,” he specifies.
The Mission Will Enable France to Stand on Equal Footing with Our Allies
The Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier, with Rafale Marine fighter jets on board, will resume its operations at the end of April after eight months of work. Escorted by a nuclear attack submarine, specialized frigates, and a replenishment vessel – all comprising the French “naval group” – it has participated in NATO exercises and operations, always under French national control.
This mission will allow France to “stand in line and be on the same level as our allies. At the same time, we will learn a lot,” appreciates the commander of the French naval group, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard.
“A Message to the Russians”
This “sends a message to the Russians. Faced with the growing threat, being collectively efficient takes precedence,” says Pascal Ausseur, the director general of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies. It also conveys a message to other NATO member states critical for some time of French support for Kyiv, which they considered too lenient after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
However, France has recently toughened its statements against Moscow, and French President Emmanuel Macron called for a “defeat of Russia” in mid-March.
“There has been a fairly significant shift in the French approach. In Brussels, allies are closely monitoring all these developments, and the more concrete gestures like this there are, the stronger the perception of a credible French change will be,” emphasizes a former NATO official, Robert Pszczel, a researcher at the Centre for Eastern Studies.
This mission “reflects our common commitment to strengthen cooperation and ensure interoperability in a challenging security environment,” says NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah.
TAGS: France, Charles-de-Gaulle, NATO, Russia, naval mission
