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France will build a new aircraft carrier to replace its aging flagship, President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday during a visit to French forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates.
The decision, finalized this week, authorizes construction of a successor to the Charles de Gaulle, France's only aircraft carrier and the sole nuclear-powered carrier operating outside the United States Navy. The new vessel is intended to replace the current carrier in the late 2030s, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.
"We must be strong in order to be feared, and in particular strong at sea," Macron told troops at a military base in Abu Dhabi. He said the decision to launch the "large-scale" program followed "a full and thorough review" and aligned with France's last two military programming laws, which outline defense spending and strategic priorities.
The announcement comes as France commits to preserving blue-water naval capabilities and projecting power globally. Macron framed the new carrier as essential to French sovereignty and maritime security.
"This new aircraft carrier will be an illustration of the power of our nation, the power of industry and technology, power placed at the service of freedom on the seas and amid the upheavals of our time," the president said.
France currently operates only the Charles de Gaulle, a 42,500-tonne nuclear-powered carrier commissioned in 2001. The ship represents a critical asset for French military operations, carrying 30 to 40 aircraft including Rafale M fighters and E-2C Hawkeye early warning planes. The carrier has participated in operations from Afghanistan to the Middle East and recently deployed for exercises in the Indo-Pacific.
The Charles de Gaulle itself replaced two smaller carriers, the Clemenceau and Foch, which served the French Navy for four decades beginning in the 1960s. Those conventionally powered ships participated in operations ranging from Pacific nuclear tests to the Gulf War and Yugoslav conflicts before being decommissioned around 2000.
France is one of only a handful of nations capable of building and operating large aircraft carriers, and the only European country with such capability. The decision to proceed reflects France's broader defense strategy emphasizing strategic autonomy and the ability to conduct independent military operations.
Macron made the announcement while visiting French forces deployed in the UAE for the Christmas period. He is also scheduled to hold talks with Emirati officials on bilateral relations during the trip.
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