The overall ambition: pushing for greater European sovereignty to have the "freedom to decide, choose and act" to defend πͺπΊ interests. This ambition is translated into 6 priorities.
1/ Agreeing on a common threat assessment among Europeans through the adoption of the Strategic Compass which will set the πͺπΊ level of ambition for the next 10 years. "It won't be just another report but a real concrete action plan".
2/ Promoting joint operations with the ambition of making the πͺπΊ more reactive. This means more synergies between πͺπΊ missions and ad hoc operations (such as Takuba in the Sahel) and cooperation on hybrid threats.
This objective also requires the creation of a "rapid deployment capability". "It is not a question of developing yet another permanent force on paper but of working on what Europeans lack in order to act in the real world, such as air transport capabilities" stressed Min. Parly.
3/ Defending πͺπΊ interests in contested common spaces:
- at sea (through coordinated maritime presences)
- in the cyber space (with a πͺπΊ cyber defense policy and joint exercises)
- in the outer space (with a πͺπΊ defense space strategy to be developed by 2023).
4/ Developing common military equipments. Minister Parly underlined that Europeans still have 17 different types of battle tanks, 29 types of frigates and destroyers, and 20 types of combat aircrafts.
5/ Encouraging innovation, in particular through the creation of an Innovation Defense Hub within the European Defense Agency.
6/ Forging balanced partnerships in Africa, in the Indo-Pacific and, of course, with NATO. "The development, in parallel, of the πͺπΊ Strategic Compass and of NATO's next Strategic Concept is a unique opportunity to strengthen the complementarity between both organizations". [End]
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"New Caledonians voted overwhelmingly against full sovereignty and independence in a context of high abstention. New Caledonia will therefore remain French."
πͺπΊπ«π· President Macron just presented France's priorities for its presidency of the Council of the EU (which starts next January). Brace yourself for a long 𧡠on the main takeaways of a long speech π
First, the presidency will happen in a tense strategic environment with rising regional tensions especially in Europe's neighborhood, the persistence of the pandemic, growing global inequalities and climate change.
Against this backdrop, President Macron's ambition is to "move from a Europe of cooperation within its borders to a powerful and fully sovereign Europe that masters its destiny on the global stage".
Le Drian: "I would like to thank you for having chosen France for your first trip in your new position. This first visit is a fine tradition in Franco-German relations. This relationship is essential, not to say vital, for our two nations".
Le Drian: "The orientations of the German government's coalition contract largely overlap the priorities France will advance on behalf of the Europeans during its presidency of the EU Council".
What should we expect from the Macron-Biden meeting later this week in Rome? In this @TheNatlInterest piece, I try to put into perspective the ongoing diplomatic row between Paris and Washington over #AUKUS. A short 𧡠on the main takeaways π nationalinterest.org/feature/aukus-β¦
If you think that the π«π·πΊπΈ diplomatic tensions over AUKUS are only a bilateral matter over the loss of a submarine contract, then youβre mistaken.
The AUKUS crisis is actually revealing of a larger trend in the transatlantic relationship, with Washington increasingly focusing on its competition with China sometimes at the risk of overlooking Europe's role and interests.
Yesterday, France launched with success a military communication satellite called SYRACUSE IV. This is an important milestone in France's space defense strategy. A short 𧡠to explain why π
Syracuse IV will provide secure communications to French armed forces regardless of the distance. This satellite will be part of a constellation of 3, replacing the existing system (Syracuse III) in place since 2007.
This constellation will have a bandwidth 3 times higher than the previous generation and will connect together more than 400 ground stations.
French foreign minister @JY_LeDrian testified yesterday at a French Senate hearing on the implications of #AUKUS. An important discussion with French Senators which will be followed by other hearings. A 𧡠on the main highlights π
First, minister Le Drian presented in detail the Franco-Australian Future Submarine Program. An intergovernmental agreement was signed in December 2016 and then a Strategic Partnering Agreement in February 2019.
The production was supposed to start in 2023 and the first submarine to be delivered by 2033/2034. Le Drian noted that the program included an industrial partnership with the U.S. with Lockheed Martin in charge of the weapon system.