Europe and the sea No common geopolitical view among EU Member States
Interview with Alain Coldefy, Admiral (ret), former Major General of the French Armed Forces, Paris
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he European: Admiral, in your book “Amiral – Le sel et les étoiles” you have succeeded in describing the multifaceted profession of the sailor with all its lessons and dangers. What are the differences between the sailors of yesterday and those of today? Alain Coldefy: The evolution of society in terms of education, social behaviour, attitudes towards one’s professional life, has resulted in a similar evolution among seamen of all ranks, aboard warships, surface vessels or submarines. Notions of “idealism” and “vocation” have not disappeared, but it is clear that in the 21st century, the work/life balance, essential compromises within a couple in terms of work and salary constitute a big change. In addition, sailors’ communications on social networks are hardly compatible with the discretion required for operational deployments. So, our young sailors, including officers, have to be educated in such matters. The European: And how has the French Navy managed the feminisation of crews? Alain Coldefy: There has been no particular difficulty as long as women’s accommodation was part of the initial design. Today, all surface vessels have mixed crews and the generation of “Barracuda” nuclear attack submarines – the first SNA, Suffren, is currently in testing - is designed to take on board female personnel. The European: The French navy enjoys an enviable status in the population. Is this reflected in the investment budget? What line do you take on technologies of the future? Alain Coldefy: These are indeed the essential issues. Let me give you some short answers: First, it is true that the French
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photo: (c) 2019 Joris van Boven/Shutterstock
THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
Navy enjoys great popularity among the French. Second, investments are guaranteed, but there are still two permanent weak points: the ability to maintain high intensity combat over a long period and the inability to protect all maritime areas under our national jurisdiction. And third, for the technologies of the future, it is a question of making the right choices: onboard drones, cyber ships protected by design, all areas that are currently being implemented. The European: What distinguishes the French Navy from the navies of other EU Member States? Alain Coldefy: The French Navy is the only navy in Europe that has the triptych of the following vessels: nuclear powered aircraft carriers capable of delivering nuclear weapons (Nuclear Carrier Vessels/CVN); nuclear missile submarines (Nuclear powered Submarines with nuclear Ballistic missiles/SSBN), and nuclear attack submarines (Nuclear powered Submersible Ships /SSN). The five permanent members of the UN Security Council have similar warships, but among them, the French navy is autonomous in nuclear armaments. This is not the case of the United Kingdom, which completely depends on the US Navy for its deterrence and, in addition, has no CVNs. The European: And what about more traditional vessels such as frigates? Alain Coldefy: Frigates are a good example: some EU countries have ships in this class that are equivalent in quality and sometimes higher in number to our own. The European: What is the reason for France’ self-confidence in its national capabilities as a sea power even with restraint means? Does it simply feel pride of being owner of the so called “France Maritime” covering France’s overseas territories?
