Tribune. On BFM-TV, on November 25, Mr. Mélenchon wondered. Does nuclear deterrence still make sense, he wondered live, before relapsing two days later with a text posted on his campaign site. With the approach of a presidential election, it is normal, and even healthy, that those who seek the votes to wonder about the armies of which they can become the leader and in particular on the deterrence, of which the election would make of them the ultimate decision maker… and lonely.
Let us recall on this occasion that if we reduce the annual cost of the nuclear aggregate, 3.5 billion euros for the State budget (approximately 0.15% of GDP), to the number of our population, the cost of deterrence is five euros per month and per French.
Since M. Mélenchon, with the eloquence which is customary to him, and which makes him one of the best parliamentary orators of the Ve Republic, is surprised that“No other candidate or their party has expressed a point of view on the subject”, allow me to express mine to him, that of a colleague deputy of the majority, who certainly did not and is not intended to have his finger on the nuclear button but who attached, in recent months, to tirelessly meet the men and women who serve under the flags.
Deterrence is a permanent ability
M. Mélenchon wants to be tribune, I am a pilgrim. And it was leaning on my stick that I was able to forge myself some convictions, through meetings, visits, immersions. What, then, is the meaning of what is called deterrence? Deterrence, in France, is first and foremost a capacity. A permanent capability, implemented by the national navy and the air force, which guarantees, whatever happens and whatever the cost, that a possible presidential nuclear firing order would be executed.
It is a dimensioning capacity for our forces: in Brittany, the operational base of Île Longue, desired by General de Gaulle, houses the four submarines launching machines, the Triumphant, Reckless, Vigilant and Terrible. Four giants whose presence at the tip of Brittany shapes the format of the naval action force in Brest: frigates and avisos, maritime patrol planes and helicopters, even maritime gendarmerie stars, share the Leviathan escort as their main mission. until dilution.
Since the first alert, that of the Formidable de Louzeau, in 1972, there is always at least one submarine in the sea. Its crew, made up of determined men, and recently equally exceptional women, spend up to seventy days at sea. L he air force, through the strategic air forces, also exercises this permanent mission, with Rafale fighters and their indispensable auxiliary, the in-flight refueler. Day and night, they too keep the alert, continuously since 1964 and the heroic times of the Mirage-IV.
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