Published
Video length: 2 min
TRUE OR FALSE. Has the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier come under NATO control?
The participation of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in a NATO mission caused a lot of reaction. But to say that it came under NATO control is an exaggeration.
(franceinfo)
The participation of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in a NATO mission caused a lot of reaction. But to say that it came under NATO control is an exaggeration.
Is France really entrusting its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to NATO? On April 22, the carrier strike group deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of an exercise with several nations: the United States, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. This is the Aquila mission which will last six weeks. The aircraft carrier has an operational command, ensured by the chief of staff of the French armies and an operational control responsible for carrying out the missions defined by the command.
A temporary situation
Operational control will be delegated to NATO for a period of fifteen days, between April 26 and May 10. “France remains sovereign over the use of its resources”, confirms Guillaume Lasconjarias, military historian. France also maintains control of its nuclear deterrent on board the Charles de Gaulle. Here, it is only temporarily delegating part of its forces. Although this is the first time that the Charles de Gaulle has been under NATO operational control, this type of cooperation happens regularly. French regiments are often placed under NATO operational control.
