War in Ukraine. Troops deployed, aircraft carriers… From Toulouse, the Minister of the Armed Forces takes stock
By Thibaut Calatayud
Published on
Friday March 4, 2022, on the sidelines of a visit to Toulouse to close the “AsterX” military space exercise, the Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parlyreturned to the deployment of French forces in NATO member countries, located in the east of the continent.
500 soldiers deployed in Romania
“This deployment continues. I will go on Sunday (March 6, editor’s note) fr Romania to take stock of this deployment which, on this date, will be completed, ”announced the Minister of the Armed Forces. In total, 500 soldiers and armored have or are in the process of joining the country.
“Our soldiers are on a base on which NATO forces are already present. This is a very important signal which adds to our presence in the Baltic countries since we are present on the Tapa base in Estonia”.
She also recalled that the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle would be repositioned in the Mediterranean “in order to achieve success with fighter and observation aircraft on the southern part of the eastern flank of Europe”.
France attentive to the space situation
In addition to this terrestrial deployment, the Minister remains attentive to the situation in space where interference is increasingly numerous.
Florence Parly has also indicated that a cyberattack had taken place in recent days on the satellite network, triggered a disruption of broadband reception in a dozen countries, including Ukraine.
This incident, France has not been observed since special behavior in the space field. “But what I am saying at the time I am speaking could be invalidated a little later,” warns the Minister for the Armed Forces.
“France is opposed to space raiders”
In this tense geopolitical context, the European military space exercise “AsterX” takes on its full meaning.
But Florence Parly assures that the purpose of this event was not to make a show of force to Russia, the exercise being scheduled for a long time. Nevertheless, this simulation is “a message addressed to the entire international community”.
“I know we are being watched a lot. I have no doubt that our strategic competitors will be noted that this exercise has taken place.”
The Minister also recalled that France and Europe are “offered to space reavers. We are for a peaceful and responsible use of space. And this in compliance with international law. Remarks which echo the speech of Emmanuel Macron, delivered in Toulouse, Wednesday February 16, 2022.
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