A few days before the updating of the military programming law, socialist parliamentarians propose “the opening of an ambitious doctrinal reflection”: to move away from the “bonsai army” model, especially for the French navy. Especially as “the seas are closing and populations are paying the price,” they note. By Anna Pic, Hélène Conway-Mouret, Thibault Delamare, and Marie Récalde.

With the resurgence of imperial logic among powers, the return to conflict is taking place both on land and at sea. Faced with this structural transformation of international relations, France’s own maritime and naval power is an undeniable asset that we must strengthen for our protection, as well as for that of our European allies.

The elements that lead to this reflection are multiple.

Russia, through its ghost fleet, finances its war effort, circumvents sanctions imposed by the European Union, and tests our surveillance capabilities while threatening our economic and strategic interests such as freedom of movement, a pillar of the supply of our European societies. It could tomorrow aggress us on the seas and in our ports.

At the same time, China is deploying in the Indo-Pacific a methodical expansion strategy, combining military pressure, fait accompli policy, and hybrid actions, from the South China Sea to the vicinity of Taiwan.

The United States, on the other hand, have been disengaging from the Old Continent since 2011, recently reinforced by a strategy of vassalization of Europe. They are multiplying warlike adventures outside international law, hoping to reshape the world through the use of force.

A new architecture of European security

Our latest National Strategic Review gives a brief conventional conflict with Russia the defining character of our doctrine. This danger, already fueled by a plethora of actions below the threshold of war (cyberattacks, sabotage, violations of airspace, etc.), will inevitably present itself by sea. The recent events in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian response to Israeli-American aggression, demonstrate its accuracy.

Marine nationale: means up to the challenges

Finally – and this is the heart of this column – our naval air capabilities. France has the largest maritime facade in Europe, strategic overseas territories, and a unique naval tradition. The Navy must have means commensurate with what it can bring to our partners and allies. The security of Europe is also at stake at sea, where durability is essential for both fighting and defending maritime flows, over long distances. The recent presence of the Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean on March 6 for the protection of our citizens and interests has garnered attention because it remains a power tool of our defense and reassurance. In this respect, the future next-generation nuclear aircraft carrier (PA-NG) is not just a symbol of prestige; it is a key piece of a system ‘on which everything relies.’ It will enable the projection of naval air power without depending on maritime bases, as well as the action of nuclear attack submarines, crucial actors in modern sea combat.

For France, an investment of around 10 billion euros is considerable, but it is primarily protective of our know-how, job protection, purchasing power, and the vitality of the economic fabric of our territories, industrial sovereignty in many areas, fiscal benefits, and the perpetuation of an essential milestone of our defense industrial and technological base. Statutorily, the magnitude of the effort must be measured: only the United States and China currently have complete production capabilities for such ships.

Move away from the “bonsai” army model

A few days before the update of the military programming law, we propose the opening of an ambitious doctrinal reflection: to move away from the “bonsai army” model to enhance our own strengths and assume our responsibilities in service of European security.

While Russia, Iran, and China play on our energy and commercial dependencies, we have a duty to develop a clear political, military, and industrial strategy. In this way, we will provide collective responses to the resurgence of force against law and threats to our democracies.

Contributors

Anna Pic, Deputy of the 4th district of Manche

Hélène Conway-Mouret, Senate representative for French citizens residing abroad

Thibault Delamare, Defense Delegate of the Socialist Party

Marie Récalde, National Secretary of Defense for the Socialist Party