France to Build New Aircraft Carrier, Macron Announces

Paris — French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans for France to build a new aircraft carrier, underscoring Paris’s ambition to strengthen its naval power and global military presence.
Speaking on France’s defense posture, Macron said the country must remain “strong to be feared,” emphasizing deterrence and strategic autonomy amid growing global security challenges. The new aircraft carrier will eventually replace the Charles de Gaulle, France’s only nuclear-powered carrier, which is expected to reach the end of its operational life in the coming decades.
According to French officials, the next-generation carrier will enhance France’s ability to project power overseas, support NATO operations, and safeguard maritime interests. The project is also expected to boost the domestic defense industry and preserve critical shipbuilding and nuclear propulsion expertise.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with European nations reassessing their defense capabilities and increasing military spending in response to evolving threats.
France remains the only European country operating a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and the new vessel is set to reinforce its status as a leading naval power on the global stage.