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French Armed Forces

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TheFrench Armed Forces(French:Forces armées françaises) are themilitary forcesofFrance.They consist of fourmilitary branches– theArmy,theNavy,theAir and Space Forceand theNational Gendarmerie.TheNational Guardserves as the French Armed Forces'military reserve force.As stipulated byFrance's constitution,thepresident of Franceserves ascommander-in-chiefof the French military. France has theninth largest defence budgetin the world and the third largest in theEuropean Union(EU). It also has thelargest military by sizein the EU.[4]As of 2021, the total active personnel of the French Armed Forces is 270,000. While the reserve personnel is 63,700 (including the National Gendarmerie), for a total of 333,000 personnel (excluding the active personnel of the National Gendarmerie). If we include the active personnel of the National Gendarmerie, the total men power of all the French Armed Forces combined is 435,000 strong.[5]A 2015Credit Suissereport ranked the French Armed Forces as the world's sixth most powerful military.[6]

French Armed Forces
Forces armées françaises
Emblem of the French Defence Staff
Service branches
National Gendarmerie
HeadquartersHexagone Balard,Paris
Leadership
Chief of the Armed ForcesPresidentEmmanuel Macron
Minister of the Armed ForcesSébastien Lecornu
Chief of the Defence StaffGénéral d'arméeThierry Burkhard
Personnel
Military age17.5
ConscriptionNone
Active personnel270,000 (2021)[4]
Reserve personnel63,700 (including Gendarmerie)[5]
Expenditure
Budget€58.5 billion ($64.5 billion)
(2024, including pensions)
€47.2 billion ($52.1 billion)
(2024, excluding pensions)[1]
Percent of GDP2,06 % (2024)[2]
Industry
Domestic suppliers
Foreign suppliersUnited States
United Kingdom
Brazil
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands
Italy
Norway
Canada
Belgium
Austria
Annual importsUS$84 million (2014–2022)[3]
Annual exportsUS$2.60 billion (2014–2022)[3]
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of France
Warfare directory of France
Wars involving France
Battles involving France
RanksArmy ranks
Navy ranks
Air and Space Force ranks

History

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Main article:Military history of France

The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2,000 years across areas, including modern France, greater Europe, andFrench territorial possessions overseas.According to British historianNiall Ferguson,the French participated in 50 of the 125 major European wars that have been fought since 1495; more than any other European state. They are followed by the Austrians who fought in 47 of them, the Spanish in 44 and the English (and later British) who were involved in 43. In addition, out of all recorded conflicts which occurred since the year 387 BC, France has fought in 168 of them, won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10.[7]

The Gallo-Roman conflict predominated from 60 BC to 50 BC, with the Romans emerging victorious in theconquest of GaulbyJulius Caesar.After the decline of theRoman Empire,aGermanic tribeknown as theFrankstook control ofGaulby defeating competing tribes. The "land of Francia," from which France gets its name, had high points of expansion under kingsClovis IandCharlemagne.In theMiddle Ages,rivalries with England and theHoly Roman Empireprompted major conflicts such as theNorman Conquestand theHundred Years' War.With an increasingly centralized monarchy, the first standing army since Roman times, and the use of artillery, France expelled the English from its territory and came out of the Middle Ages as the most powerful nation in Europe, only to lose that status to Spain following defeat in theItalian Wars.TheWars of Religioncrippled France in the late 16th century, but a major victory in theThirty Years' Warmade France one of the most powerful nations on the continent once more. In parallel, France developed itsfirst colonial empirein Asia, Africa, and in the Americas. UnderLouis XIV,France achieved military supremacy over its rivals, but escalating conflicts against increasingly powerful enemy coalitionschecked French ambitionsand left the kingdom bankrupt at the opening of the 18th century.

Free FrenchLegionnairesat theBattle of Bir Hakeim(1942)

Resurgent French armies secured victories in dynastic conflicts against theSpanish,Polish,andAustriancrowns. At the same time, France wasfending off attackson its colonies. As the 18th century advanced, global competition with Great Britain led to theSeven Years' War,where France lost itsNorth American holdings.Consolation came in the form of dominance in Europe and theAmerican Revolutionary War,whereextensive French aidin the form of money and arms, and thedirect participation of its army and navyled to America's independence.[8]Internal political upheaval eventually led to 23 years of nearly continuous conflict in theFrench Revolutionary Warsand theNapoleonic Wars.France reached the zenith of its power during this period, dominating the European continent in an unprecedented fashion underNapoleon Bonaparte,but by 1815 it had been restored to its pre-Revolutionary borders. The rest of the 19th century witnessed the growth of theSecond French colonial empireas well as French interventions inBelgium,Spain,andMexico.Other major wars were fought againstRussiain theCrimea,AustriainItaly,andPrussiawithin France itself.

Following defeat in theFranco-Prussian War,Franco-German rivalryerupted again in the First World War. France and its allies were victorious this time. Social, political, and economic upheaval in the wake of the conflict led to the Second World War, in which the Allies were defeated in theBattle of Franceand the French government surrendered and was replaced with anauthoritarian regime.TheAllies,including the government in exile'sFree French Forcesand later a liberated French nation, eventually emerged victorious over theAxis powers.As a result, France secured anoccupation zone in Germanyand a permanent seat on theUnited Nations Security Council.

The imperative of avoiding a third Franco-German conflict on the scale of those of two world wars paved the way forEuropean integrationstarting in the 1950s. France became anuclear powerwith itsfirst test of an atomic bombinAlgeriain 1960.[9]Since the 1990s its military action is most often seen in cooperation withNATOand its European partners.

International stance

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See also:France and weapons of mass destruction

Today, French military doctrine is based on the concepts of national independence, nuclear deterrence (seeForce de dissuasion), and military self-sufficiency.Franceis a charter member ofNATO,and has worked actively with its allies to adapt NATO—internally and externally—to the post-Cold Warenvironment. In December 1995, France announced that it would increase its participation in NATO's military wing, including the Military Committee (France withdrew from NATO's military bodies in 1966 whilst remaining full participants in the Organisation's political Councils). France remains a firm supporter of theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europeand other cooperative efforts.Parishosted the May 1997 NATO-RussiaSummitwhich sought the signing of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security. Outside of NATO, France has actively and heavily participated in both coalition and unilateral peacekeeping efforts inAfrica,theMiddle East,and theBalkans,frequently taking a lead role in these operations. France has undertaken a major restructuring to develop a professional military that will be smaller, more rapidly deployable, and better tailored for operations outside of mainland France. Key elements of the restructuring include: reducing personnel, bases and headquarters, and rationalisation of equipment and thearmaments industry.

Since the end of theCold War,France has placed a high priority on arms control and non-proliferation. French Nuclear testing in thePacific,and thesinking of theRainbow Warriorstrained French relations with its Allies, South Pacific states (namelyNew Zealand), and world opinion. France agreed to theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treatyin 1992 and supported its indefinite extension in 1995. After conducting a controversial final series of six nuclear tests onMururoain theSouth Pacific,the French signed theComprehensive Test Ban Treatyin 1996. Since then, France has implemented a moratorium on the production, export, and use of anti-personnellandminesand supports negotiations leading toward a universal ban. The French are key players in the adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe to the new strategic environment. France remains an active participant in: the major programs to restrict the transfer of technologies that could lead to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, theAustralia Group(for chemical and biological weapons), and theMissile Technology Control Regime.France has also signed and ratified theChemical Weapons Convention.

White Papers

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Main article:2008 French White Paper on Defence and National Security

2008

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On 31 July 2007, PresidentNicolas Sarkozyordered M. Jean-Claude Mallet, a member of the Council of State, to head up a thirty-five member commission charged with a wide-ranging review of French defence. The commission issued itsWhite Paperin early 2008.[10]Acting upon its recommendations, President Sarkozy began making radical changes in French defense policy and structures starting in the summer of 2008. In keeping with post-Cold Warchanges in European politics and power structures, the French military's traditional focus on territorial defence will be redirected to meet the challenges of a global threat environment. Under the reorganisation, the identification and destruction ofterroristnetworks both in metropolitan France and infrancophone Africawill be the primary task of the French military. Redundant military bases will be closed and new weapons systems projects put on hold to finance the restructuring and global deployment of intervention forces. In a historic change, Sarkozy furthermore has declared that France "will now participate fully inNATO,"four decades after former French president GeneralCharles de Gaullewithdrew from the alliance's command structure and ordered American troops off French soil.[11]

2013

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Main article:2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security

In May 2014, high ranking defence chiefs of the French Armed Forces threatened to resign if the defence budget received further cuts on top of those already announced in the 2013 White Paper. They warned that further cuts would leave the armed forces unable to support operations abroad.[12]

Recent operations

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France
French military interventions since 2001:Afghanistan;Ivory Coast;Chad;Libya;Somalia;Mali;Central African Republic;Syria;Iraq.

There are currently 36,000 French troopsdeployedin foreign territories—such operations are known as "OPEX" forOpérations Extérieures( "External Operations" ). Among other countries, France provides troops for the United Nations force stationed inHaitifollowing the2004 Haiti rebellion.France has sent troops, especiallyspecial forces,intoAfghanistanto help the United States and NATO forces fight the remains of theTalibanandAl Qaeda.InOpération Licornea force of a few thousand French soldiers is stationed inIvory Coaston a UN peacekeeping mission. These troops were initially sent under the terms of a mutual protection pact between France and the Ivory Coast, but the mission has since evolved into the current UN peacekeeping operation. The French Armed Forces have also played a leading role in the ongoing UN peacekeeping mission along theLebanon-Israelborder as part of the cease-fire agreement that brought the2006 Lebanon Warto an end. Currently, France has 2,000 army personnel deployed along the border, including infantry, armour, artillery and air defence. There are also naval and air personnel deployed offshore.

The French Joint Force and Training Headquarters (État-Major Interarmées de Force et d'Entraînement) at Air Base 110 nearCreilmaintains the ability to command a medium or large-scale international operation, and runs exercises.[13]In 2011, from 19 March, France participated in the enforcement of ano-fly zoneover northernLibya,during theLibyan Civil war,in order to prevent forces loyal toMuammar Gaddafifrom carrying out air attacks onAnti-Gaddafi forces.This operation was known asOpération Harmattanand was part of France's involvement in the conflict in the NATO-led coalition, enforcingUN Security Council Resolution 1973.On 11 January 2013 France begunOperation Servalto fight Islamists inMaliand theSahal Regionwith African support but without NATO involvement and launchedOperation Barkhaneto combat terror in African Sahal from 2014 to 2022.

Exercises

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ADassault Rafalerefuels from a USAF KC-10 Extender

France participates in several recurring exercises with other nations, including:

In 2023, Exercise Orion, the largest in decades, is to be held in theChampagne-Ardenneregion. About 10,000 soldiers are expected to take part, along with the French navy and possibly forces from Belgium, Britain, and the United States.[17]

Personnel

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Hexagone Balard,the headquarters of the French Armed Forces

The head of the French armed forces is thePresident of the Republic,in his role aschef des armées.However, the Constitution puts civil and military government forces at the disposal of thegouvernement(the executive cabinet of ministers chaired by thePrime Minister,who are not necessarily of the same political side as the president). TheMinister of the Armed Forcesoversees the military's funding, procurement and operations. Historically, France relied a great deal onconscriptionto provide manpower for its military, in addition to a minority of professional career soldiers. Following theAlgerian War,the use of non-volunteer draftees in foreign operations was ended; if their unit was called up for duty in war zones, draftees were offered the choice between requesting a transfer to another unit or volunteering for the active mission. In 1996, PresidentJacques Chirac's government announced the end of conscription and in 2001, conscription formally was ended. Young people must still, however, register for possible conscription (should the situation call for it). As of 2017 the French Armed Forces have total manpower of 426,265, and has an active personnel of 368,962 (with theGendarmerie Nationale).[18]

It breaks down as follows (2022):[19]

Thereserve elementof the French Armed Forces consists of two structures; the Operational Reserve and the Citizens Reserve. As of 2022 the strength of the Operational Reserve is 25,785 personnel.[18]

Apart from the three main service branches, the French Armed Forces also includes a fourth military branch called theNational Gendarmerie.It had a reported strength of 103,000 active personnel and 25,000 reserve personnel in 2018.[20]They are used in everyday law enforcement, and also form a coast guard formation under the command of the French Navy. There are however some elements of the Gendarmerie that participate in French external operations, providing specialised law enforcement and supporting roles.

Historically theNational Guardfunctioned as the Army's reserve national defense and law enforcement militia. After 145 years since its disbandment, due to the risk of terrorist attacks in the country, the Guard was officially reactivated, this time as a service branch of the Armed Forces, on 12 October 2016.[21]

Since 2019 young French citizens can fulfill themandatory serviceService national universel (SNU)within the Armed Forces in the service branch of their choice.[22][23]

Organisation and service branches

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Placed under the command of the staffs, the Frencharmed forcesinclude the fiveservice branches,theArmy,theNational Navy,theAir and Space Force,theNational Gendarmerie,and theNational Guard,as well as the support services and joint organizations:[24]

French Army (Armée de terre)

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Main article:French Army
See also:List of equipment of the French Army

National Navy (Marine nationale)

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Main article:French Navy
See also:List of active French Navy ships

In addition, theNational Gendarmerieform a Coast Guard force called theGendarmerie Maritimewhich is commanded by the French Navy.

French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace)

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Main article:French Air and Space Force
See also:List of active military aircraft of the French Armed Forces

National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie nationale)

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Main article:National Gendarmerie

TheNational Gendarmerieis primarily a military and airborne capable police force which serves as a rural and general purpose police force.

National Guard (Garde nationale)

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Main article:National Guard (France)

Reactivated in 2016, the National Guard serves as the official primary military and police reserve service of the Armed Forces. It is placed under the jurisdiction ofMinistry of the Armed Forcesand serves as areserve force.It also doubles as a force multiplier for law enforcement personnel during contingencies and to reinforce military personnel whenever being deployed within France and abroad.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"PROJET DE LOI DE FINANCES"(PDF).Ministere Armees.Retrieved2024-01-15.
  2. ^"Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014-2024)"(PDF).nato.int. 2024-06-17.Retrieved2024-06-18.
  3. ^ab"TIV of arms imports/exports data for France, 2014–2022".Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.30 January 2024.
  4. ^"Military expenditure by country, in constant (2015) US$ m., 2007–2016 (table)"(PDF).Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Retrieved18 August2017.
  5. ^"Quel avenir pour la gendarmerie?".3 April 2023.
  6. ^O’Sullivan, Michael; Subramanian, Krithika (2015-10-17).The End of Globalization or a more Multipolar World?(Report).Credit SuisseAG. Archived fromthe originalon 15 February 2018.Retrieved2017-07-14.
  7. ^Ferguson, Niall (2001)."The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern World, 1700–2000; p.25-27".www.goodreads.com.Retrieved2020-07-05.
  8. ^Richard Brooks (editor),Atlas of World Military History.p. 101. "Washington's success in keeping the army together deprived the British of victory, but French intervention won the war."
  9. ^Blair, W. Granger (13 February 1960)."France Explodes Her First A-Bomb in a Sahara Test".New York Times.p. 1.Retrieved5 November2010.
  10. ^Official Presidential Website,Letter of Engagement to M. Jean-Claude Mallet, 31 July 2007Archived21 September 2008 at theWayback Machine
  11. ^Jim Hoagland, "France's Whirlwind of Change", Real Clear Politics, 18 June 2008[1]
  12. ^Samuels, Henry (23 May 2014)."French Military Heads Threaten to Resign Over 'Grave' Defense Cuts".www.atlanticcouncil.org.Telegraph.Retrieved27 May2014.
  13. ^[2]ArchivedJune 5, 2010, at theWayback Machine
  14. ^FAB In CRUZEX IV Coalition Force's backstage
  15. ^FAB CRUZEX IVArchived2011-07-19 at theWayback Machine(in Portuguese)
  16. ^"FRENCH MILITARY EXERCISE – CARAIBE 2013".La France dans la Caraïbe.Government of France. 3 May 2013.Retrieved8 May2021.
  17. ^"The French armed forces are planning for high-intensity war".The Economist.31 March 2021.Retrieved8 May2021.
  18. ^ab"Chiffres clés de la Défense – 2017"(in French). Defense.gouv.fr. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-02-18.Retrieved2018-06-29.)
  19. ^"defense.gouv.fr".www.defense.gouv.fr.Retrieved2022-03-28.
  20. ^[3],gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr, 2018
  21. ^Corbet, Sylvie (8 August 2017)."France creates National Guard to battle terrorism".
  22. ^Text by: FRANCE 24 Follow (16 June 2019)."France begins trial of compulsory civic service for teens".France24.com.Retrieved2020-06-02.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^Williamson, Lucy (2019-06-26)."France's raw recruits sign up for return of national service – BBC News".Bbc.com.Retrieved2020-06-02.
  24. ^"Article L3211-1 du code de la Défense".www.legifrance.gouv.fr.Retrieved2022-02-23.

Bibliography

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