French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle – Photo: AFP
According to Reuters, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle began its mission in the Mediterranean on April 26.
The strike group of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and accompanying warships is NATO’s Neptune Strike center. The mission will see a series of exercises that NATO claims help members coordinate coherently and better deter enemies.
The fact that the Charles de Gaulle was placed under NATO operational control for the first time is highly symbolic, as it is France’s only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier named after the president who withdrew from France. from NATO Military Command in 1966.
France returned to the command in 2009 and, according to officials, Paris’ interest in NATO exercises increased after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022.
The decision to place the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier under NATO command has attracted a lot of criticism from the French who believe it represents a loss of sovereignty.
In response, French officials said that this move was normal as a member of a multinational military alliance.
According to Reuters, Neptune Strike involves about 20 ships, including light aircraft carrier groups from Italy, Spain and Türkiye.
The mission of this deployment includes long-range flights to simulate strikes supporting ground troops in Eastern Europe.
Ahead of the deployment, ambassadors from 32 NATO member countries visited the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, witnessing Rafale fighter jets taking off from the deck.
Neptune Strike was not claimed to be a NATO message to Russia. However, NATO’s strategic concept identifies Moscow as the greatest threat to the security of member countries.
“NATO is not at war with Russia, but we are very concerned with Russia and we are very interested in deterring Russia so they don’t invade anyone,” US Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee said about the Neptune Strike mission.
