Paris [France], April 12: In an interview with Politico this week, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, commander of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle strike group , said the navy is shifting its focus from preventing drug trafficking and combating drug trafficking. illegally catching seafood to training to prepare for war.
"Naval war is becoming increasingly likely. We are moving from a fairly free world that we were content with to a world in which we feel threatened more often. Now, we are training for other missions, especially high-intensity warfare," Mr. Mallard said.
France is the only country in the European Union (EU) that has a navy with nuclear weapons. In addition to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle , France also has nuclear submarines and many other powerful assets such as corvettes and Rafale fighter jets.
Rear Admiral Mallard said that with the conflict in Ukraine gradually spreading to the Black Sea and Houthi's continuous attacks in the Red Sea, the navies of Western countries must change to adapt to the new environment with increasingly many opponents.
"That's where we're getting more aggressive, or at least we're preparing to be," Mr. Mallard said.
The rear admiral said French navy sailors were training to fight against enemies "who want to destroy us".
He said that from 2021, the French navy will begin conducting a new training exercise, simulating a naval battle. This move is said to be "riskier but very useful for reducing tactical thinking".
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper