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French military faces overhaul

Jun 17 2008

French military faces overhaul

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By Agencies

Sarkozy announced a 'massive' investment effort' in intelligence gathering among other proposals [AFP]
France is weighing a number of changes to the country's military, including reducing the size of the armed forces, strengthening intelligence and setting a course for its return to Nato command.

A more mobile and technologically-advanced military will help France confront threats, Nicolas Sarkozy said in Paris on Tuesday.

"Today, the most immediate threat is that of a terrorist attack," he told some 3,000 officers.

"The threat is there ... we know that it can tomorrow take on a new form, even more serious, with nuclear, chemical and biological means," Sarkozy said.

'Independent ally'

To face up to the threat, the president announced a "massive investment effort in intelligence" that will make use of satellites, drones and other airborne surveillance equipment.

The investments will be offset by cuts in the armed forces, with the army, navy and air forces to be downsized to 225,000 troops - a reduction of about 45,000.

Sarkozy also confirmed that France will return to Nato's integrated command, which it left in 1966.

But he said its nuclear deterrent forces would remain under strict national control and emphasized that France remained "an independent ally, a free partner".

"We can renew our relations with Nato without fearing for our independence and without the risk of being unwillingly dragged into a war," he said.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Nato secretary general, welcomed Sarkozy's decision for France to fully reintegrate into the military alliance.

"Obviously, it's up to France exactly how and when it wants to resume its full participation in Nato structures," James Appathurai, the chief Nato spokesman, said.

"But Nato welcomes the announcement that France is going to take steps in this direction."

Policy shift

The new security doctrine followed the release on Monday of the first review in 14 years of the French military by a panel of 35 experts.

It reflects a shift for France, making homeland security part of its defence strategy.

France's defence spending will total $583bn from 2009 to 2020 including about $310bn that will be spent on equipment, said Sarkozy.

As of 2012, the military budget will increase, he said.

Some 50 military bases, garrisons and other defence facilities are to be closed in a move that has already triggered protests in towns that fear economic hardship.

The new policy sets at 30,000 the number of combat-ready troops, down from its current targeted level of 50,000, and calls for shutting down some of France's four permanent bases in Africa.

EU force

Underscoring the focus on intelligence-gathering, a new national security council will be set up at the Elysee palace.

Bernard Bajolet, a former ambassador to Iraq and Algeria, has also been named to the newly-created post of national intelligence co-ordinator.

Sarkozy pledged to pursue his drive to build a 60,000-strong European defence force despite Ireland's rejection of a key EU reform treaty as France takes over the EU presidency in July.

"There is a very strong emphasis on intelligence, recognising that the world may not be more dangerous than it was in 1994... but it seems more unpredictable," Bruno Tertrais, a member of the expert panel, said.

"For the first time in centuries, France does not base its defence policy on the hypothesis of a major military conflict in Europe and that is quite revolutionary," said Tertrais.