French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would start building a new aircraft carrier in a bid to boost naval power.
He said, in times of aggression, France needed to be “strong to be feared” by its enemies in case anyone attempts to launch a military campaign against Europe's largest military. While he did not mention Russia in his address, observers say his message was directed towards Moscow.
The new aircraft carrier is expected to replace the ageing Charles de Gaulle carrier by 2038. The decision comes at a time when the rift within the EU has become apparent over the funding of Ukraine against Russia. The programme described as Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PANG) is likely to cost France around $12 billion. The newly built carrier will be able to house more than 30 fighter jets and 2,000 crew members and is planned to measure 310 metres long and 85 metres wide, making it far larger than the operational Charles de Gaulle carrier.
Macron announced a French military base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, near the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE happens to be the largest buyer of French military tech, since the Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway for the global energy shipping industry.
Macron said, "In times of aggression, we must be strong to be feared. I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier, adding, "The decision to launch this vast programme was taken this week.”
French armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin said in a post on X that the vessel would be a "centrepiece" of the French military.
France remains the only country in the European Union to have nuclear weapons and is only the second, besides the US, to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
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