France will build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the soon-to-be-retired Charles de Gaulle.
According to AFP and other sources, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, who is currently visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced on December 21 (local time) during a visit to a French military base near Abu Dhabi that he had approved the plan to construct a new nuclear submarine this week.
President Macron stated, "After a thorough and comprehensive review in line with the last two military programming laws, we have decided to introduce a new aircraft carrier," adding, "In a new era of predators, we must become stronger to instill fear in our adversaries."
The new aircraft carrier, which will also be nuclear-powered, will be significantly larger than the current flagship, the Charles de Gaulle, which is 261 meters long and has a displacement of 42,000 tons. The new vessel will measure 310 meters in length and have a displacement of 80,000 tons.
It will be able to accommodate 2,000 crew members and 30 fighter jets. While it is smaller than the U.S. Navy's supercarriers, which exceed 100,000 tons, AFP reported that it will be comparable to the aircraft carriers operated by China and the United Kingdom.
French Defense Minister S?bastien Lecornu told Reuters that the new aircraft carrier will be deployed in 2038, which is when the Charles de Gaulle is expected to retire. For reference, the Charles de Gaulle entered service in 2001, 15 years after it was ordered.
The construction of the new aircraft carrier is expected to cost approximately 10.25 billion euros. According to Reuters, work on related components began last year, and the final order will be placed according to the 2025 budget.
As the United States, a NATO ally, has shown a passive attitude toward supporting European security in the Russia-Ukraine war, European countries are seeking to strengthen their own defenses. However, centrist and moderate left-wing groups in France have called for a delay in building the new aircraft carrier, citing financial difficulties.
President Macron visited the UAE, where 900 French troops are stationed, in line with the tradition of French presidents spending Christmas and the year-end holidays with French forces deployed overseas. The UAE is also a major customer of French military equipment.
On the same day, he met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss ways to strengthen relations for stability in the Middle East and reportedly requested active cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
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