The 2007 French Defense Budget is $59.6 billion, not including pensions of security, it amounts to $45.4 billion (an increase of 2% from 2006). .
A total of 428,000 people are working for the French Defense Department. This number includes 348,000 military professionals and 80,000 civilian personnel, as an all-volunteer force. France has currently the largest all-volunteer military force on the European continent.
Army represents 38% (135,000 active military),
Navy,13% (43,000 active military),
Air Force , 17% (59,000 active military),
Gendarmerie (national police under military statute- 99,000 active military), 28%,
Other services (Armament Directorate, Health services, Fuel services - 14,000), 4%.
Nearly 36,000 French troops are deployed overseas, including 13,000 participating in crisis management operations.
A significant number of French troops is deployed overseas, serving two main purposes: pre-positioning requirements and crisis management operations. For this later course of action, French troops are participating in world stabilization mandated by UN resolutions as part of UN, NATO, EU or coalitions. Those actions are currently taking place in Afghanistan, Africa, the Balkans and Lebanon. (See detailed information below.)
With thousand of troops overseas, France is a strong US partner throughout the world. For example, 7,600 French troops in theCaribbean area and Guyana, alongside the US Joint Inter Agency Task Force South, play a major role in countering drug trafficking . Another example is found with the 10,000 French forces, which are present in the Pacific region and the Southern Indian Ocean where they are controlling sea lanes, notably through the French contribution to Task Force 150.
With more than 1,900 troops, France is also a major US partner in Afghanistan providing troops and support to both the NATO International Security Assistance Force and the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition air deployments operates on regular basis from Dushanbe (nearly 600 airmen), and occasionally the French Carrier Group is deployed in the region (around 3000 sailors).
France is a major NATO player .
NATO runs an ongoing transformation, and France fully participates in that process as a major proponent of enhancing NATO’s efficiency in the current strategic environment. To that effect, a French flag officer and over twenty other senior French officers are posted at SACT in Norfolk, VA.
France has been from the beginning one of the major contributors to the NATO Response Force (NRF). For instance, a French general commanded the land component of NRF7 with the participation of the Eurocorps, which conducted a major exercise for the NRF operational certification in Cape Verde.
France is among the five largest member states contributing to NATO operations .
France is thethird largest contributor to the common budgets funding Alliance operations.
DETAILED INFORMATION
1 - About 38,000 French troops are deployed overseas, including 14,000 participating in peace-keeping operations:
1 - About 38,000 French troops are deployed overseas, including 14,000 participating in peace-keeping operations
Lebanon
From October 2006 to April 24 2007, France has maintained forces to bolster the UN presence in Lebanon, and contributes 1,600 troops , both to UNIFIL and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
Afghanistan
Withmore than 1000 French troops on the ground and roughly 1500 airmen and sailors, France is actively involved in Afghanistan and is one of the major partners of the United States in that country. French contributions include troops deployed to the International Security Assistance Force (RCC Kabul; 1000 soldiers), training of the Afghan National Army (50 trainers), at sea (a CVN with 26 fighters Rafale and Super-Etendard, 2 Hawkeye aircraft , a frigate and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft), and in the air (6 fighters, 3 tankers, 2 transport aircraft, and 2 CSAR helicopters). Periodically, French fighter aircraft offer close air support to ISAF and OEF ground troops.
In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, France offered its military resources and capabilities to support the American-led military campaign, Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan.
Air Force: Since October 21, 2001, French reconnaissance aircraft and air tankers have contributed to the air campaign over Afghanistan. In 2001, France was the only country, along with the United States, to have flown bombing missions over Afghanistan in direct support of American ground troops, in particular during Operation Anaconda.
France has now 3 Mirage 2000D fighter aircraft and 3 Rafale F2 fighter aircraft in Dushambe (Tajikistan), 3 C-135 tanker and 2 C-160 Transall transport aircraft in Manas (Kyrgystan), 2 EC-725 Caracal CSAR helicopters in Kabul.
France is also playing a significant role in training the Afghan national army with 50 special operation trainers , alongside the U.S. and the United Kingdom, having initially trained 3 Afghan battalions of 500 men each and being presently involved in the training of all Afghan officers.
Indian Ocean: CVN Charles de Gaulle carrier battle group has temporary been deployed in international waters off Pakistan, in support of ISAF and OEF in neighboring Afghanistan. Referred to as Task Force 473 ,from March to April 2007.
Balkans
Kosovo:With 2,000 personnel, France is the third largest contributor to this NATO operation, after Germany and Italy.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Nearly 400 French troops are deployed under the EU flag of Mission Althea.
Africa
Ivory Coast: France has had for years a permanent military presence in Ivory Coast, under the terms of a bilateral defense agreement. In the fall of 2002, under the auspices of the United Nations, France deployed around 3,500 troops (3,300 as of today, plus 200 under blue helmets) to protect foreign civilians and prevent a civil war. After the deployment of a UN peace- keeping force (ONUCI), under the terms of a new UNSC resolution, their current mission consists of providing a quick reaction force to the “blue helmeted” soldiers.
Chad/Central African Republic: 1,300 troops in Chad and 250 in the Central AfricanRepublic contribute by their presence, at the invitation of both governments, to the stability of these countries and to the training of their armed forces for peace-keeping operations.
Darfur, Sudan: To address the humanitarian crisis, France mobilized military transport capabilities in Chad (airplanes, helicopters) for humanitarian relief operations. During the last months of 2005, French aircraft ferried 700 tons of humanitarian aid at a cost of about $2.2 million. 200 French troops in Chad contributed to enhancing the security of the Chad/Sudan border through patrols in Chad and along the border between the two countries. Furthermore, French F-1 Mirages, stationed with French troops in Chad, presently carry out reconnaissance missions on the Chadian side of the border. Two French officers are part of the Abeche monitoring team, and two more are working with the African Union planning unit in Addis Abeba.
Other Multinational Peacekeeping Operations
700 French military and police observers, staff or support personnel are deployed in Kosovo, Haiti, Western Sahara, the Sinai, Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Liberia, the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Burundi, Bosnia Herzegovina, and the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia.
2 - France is a major partner in advancing security throughout the world
In the broader context of international security, France is working closely with the U.S. military to control proliferation and drug trafficking. The French Armed Forces in the Caribbean are closely coordinating with the U.S. Joint Inter Agency Task Force South to counter all kinds of illegal trafficking. 7,600 French troops in the French Caribbean and Guyana play a major role in this mission.
Immediately following an American initiative (2003), France became a full partner in the Proliferation Security Initiative. In 2005, the French Navy led a PSI exercise (“Basilic”) in Toulon, France. In 2006, another exercise was led by France, involving Germany, Italy and Tunisia. France values very much the International Operational Working Group on PSI, and plans on organizing again a multinational exercise in 2008.
10,000 French forces are present in the Pacific region and the Southern Indian Ocean.
For years, France has been involved in operations in Africa, hence contributing to international security and stability.5,000 French troops are currently stationed in Djibouti, Gabon and Senegal under bilateral agreements. Through their presence and their training programs, they contribute to peace and security on the continent.
Finally, the French Armed Forces are actively engaged in France’s homeland security missions. A substantial number of gendarmes participate in that effort, while still fulfilling their policing role. Moreover, 800 personnel from the French Army, Navy, and Air Force are involved (most of the time as reinforcements to specialised police forces) in securing major public facilities, maritime approaches, as well as France’s national airspace.
