France Prepares for High-Intensity Warfare at Sea: Admiral
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - France has adjusted its naval strategy, prioritizing training for conventional warfare over intercepting drug traffickers and poachers, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard revealed to Politico.
Mallard, who leads France’s sole carrier battle group centered around the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, discussed these changes in an exclusive interview with Politico's EU edition, published on Wednesday.
“We’re moving from a world where we were pretty free to do as we pleased to one where we feel threatened on a more regular basis,” Mallard said. “We now train for other missions, in particular what we call high-intensity warfare.”
Highlighting the increasing likelihood of naval combat, Mallard emphasized that French sailors are now honing their skills in combat against adversaries aiming to obliterate them, rather than combating illegal activities such as trafficking or theft of marine resources. “We now train for other missions, in particular what we call high-intensity warfare,” Mallard said.
Mallard disclosed plans for a joint exercise between the French and Italian navies later this spring, based on the 'Polaris' program, which simulates naval battles. Introduced in 2021, this combat simulation aims to “disinhibit tactical thinking,” , described by Mallard as “a bit more risky but very useful.”
Though Mallard did not specify the anticipated adversary, he clarified that it does not include the People’s Liberation Army Navy. "Unless the Chinese decide to invade La Réunion or expel us from Mayotte," he stated, naming two French territories in the Indian Ocean, "there is no reason to single out the Chinese as our primary opponent."
Mallard's remarks follow weeks of French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting the possibility of NATO involvement in Ukraine, an idea met with resistance from most members of the US-led bloc, though not all.
