France
Changes in the strategic environment throughout the nineteen-nineties mean that France now has a strategic buffer to the east that can be measured in thousands of kilometres. This is the first time in its history that it has been in this situation. However, contrary to certain expectations and hopes, crises and conflicts still occur around the world, according to rationales and under circumstances where the parties to them are often new and unexpected. This has fragmented and multiplied the threats from government and non-government players. The attacks on 11 September 2001 marked the emergence of mass terrorism that gave rise to a new type of conflict, with no clearly identified battlegrounds or armies, where the enemy, which is willing to use weapons of mass destruction, clearly targets the general population. France is a developed society that is open and that has a high level of technological achievement. This makes it particularly vulnerable to new types of threats. Its commitments to a set of political partnerships, common interests and alliances make it a potential target.
France has adapted its strategy to these two changes in the international environment with the primary policy objective of defending the security of the French and their interests in France and outside France, since some 1.5 million French citizens live in other countries.
Deterrence is based on the concept of non-use and requires maintaining diversified resources to affirm France’s credibility when faced with changing threats. France must also be able to contribute to protecting Europe’s security in consideration of the growing solidarity between the countries in the European Union. France plays an active role in the implementation of regional stabilisation instruments, such as the CFE Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty on confidence-building and security measures, and the Dayton Accords. It also participates in initiatives to control weapons as part of the OSCE, including the fight against the spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and the French-Dutch initiative on munitions stockpiles. Conventional forces now play a full strategic role and are no longer considered to be merely an adjunct to the nuclear deterrent.
Prevention is the first step in the implementation of the defence strategy. This means that intelligence should provide France with the ability to anticipate events and give it an independent capability to assess the situation. France’s defence diplomacy also contributes to prevention by developing defence and security relations with foreign partners through strategic dialogue, information sharing, assistance and military cooperation.
Projection and action are the basis of the French armed forces model. The keys are the capability to deploy forces in Europe and outside Europe, and the ability to provide rapid deployment and long-term support for joint forces that can rapidly assert their superiority in a theatre of operation.
Protection of the population, institutions and France’s territory are ongoing requirements, defence of France’s national territory must be ensured under all circumstances. This means being capable of resisting blackmail, retaliation or attacks against France’s territory or population at all times, or limiting the impact of an asymmetric attack. As a direct result of the free movement of people and goods throughout the European Union, the protection of the national territory increasingly involves closer cooperation with France’s neighbours and allies.
The professionalisation of the armed forces and the end of armed forces combining career military personnel and conscripts announced in 1996 came into effect on 31 December 2002. Compulsory national service lasting one year for 18-year-old men has been abolished and replaced by a compulsory day of defence preparation for all young men and women aged between 16 and 18 years.
Defence spending has been increased substantially since 2002, with the objective of reaching 2.5% of GDP. This increase has been enshrined in the Military Planning Act for 2003-2008, which calls for spending of 14.84 billion euros each year to maintain and improve capabilities through delivery of new equipment. This represents an average increase of 6.8% in constant euros over the whole period compared to the previous Military Planning Act for 1997-2002. In 2008, defence spending will represent at least 2% of GDP. The Act for 2003-2008 sets troop numbers at 446,563 in 2008.
| Civilian and military defence personnel in 2004 | |
|---|---|
| Army | 166 892 |
| Air force | 69 276 |
| Navy | 54 656 |
| Gendarmerie | 100 345 |
| Joint services | 64 008 |
| Total | 455 177 |
The air force participates in the full range of defence tasks, at every stage and in all places. As part of its defence tasks, the air force is responsible for the airborne component of France’s nuclear force, the protection and security of the national airspace, the projection of armed forces and the projection of power for immediate intervention far beyond France’s national borders. The air force has two permanent operational commands: the Strategic Air Force Command (CFAS) and the Air Defence and Operations Command (CDAOA).
The French Navy, as part of the joint armed forces, has four main strategic functions, which form the core of the armed forces’ action: deterrence, prevention, projection and protection. The Navy’s role in deterrence has been confirmed with the continuation of the Strategic Submarine Force (FOST), which is responsible for a critical component of national defence, missile-launching nuclear submarines. Deterrence is also based on the deployment of airborne nuclear weapons.
The Gendarmerie ensures public safety, order and law enforcement. It also carries out judicial and administrative police tasks. At the European level, the Gendarmerie plays an active part in police cooperation, including participation in Europol and a contribution to the operational management of the Schengen information system. At the international level, the Gendarmerie advises governments on implementing new structures and helps to train officers in areas where its know-how is sought after, including law and order, technical and scientific police work and Gendarmerie nationale intervention unit (GIGN).
The French concept of defence, as defined in the ordinance of 7 January 1959, is a comprehensive one, setting three goals for the country’s defence.
- To defend France’s vital interests, which are defined by the President of the Republic and include its people, its territory and the freedom to exercise its sovereignty. At the same time, France must also protect its strategic interests at the international level and contribute to conflict prevention, keeping and restoring peace, as well as ensuring respect for international law and democratic values in the world. Its strategic interests lie in keeping the peace in Europe and the adjacent areas, such as the Mediterranean and the Middle East and in areas that are critical for its economy and the freedom of trade.
- To work for European integration and stability in Europe. For France to keep its place in the world, it will need to influence European integration and the coming changes in Europe. Its European choice stems from strategic and economic considerations. Furthermore, although France is still free to determine its security requirements and to choose which resources it deploys, it recognises that the Atlantic Alliance is a critical link between Europeans and Americans, even for peace-keeping missions carried out on behalf of the UN or the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The challenge is to renew the capabilities of NATO, to strike a better balance of responsibilities between the United States and Europe and to put these capabilities to work for peacekeeping missions and crisis management.
- To implement a comprehensive defence concept, which is not limited to military concerns. Indeed, a country’s security and stability depend on its social organisation, education system and social cohesion as well as its armed forces and police. This means that the concept of defence is intimately linked to the concept of the nation. For example, emergency services protect the population, maintain public order and thereby ensure the continuity of the State. The emergency services play a preventive and protective role with regard to natural and man-made risks, and ensure the security of critical infrastructures and networks. They also ensure proper allocation of resources during crises.
