France

France Offers to Halt Russian Ship Sale if UK Hits Oligarchs

By Hugh Carnegy and Peter Spiegel, Financial Times

France says it could suspend its controversial deal to sell helicopter assault ships to Russia if more sanctions are adopted against Moscow over Ukraine – but only if Britain also takes action against Russian oligarchs in London.

France Closer to Reviewing Arms Sales to Russia in Future Sanctions

By John Irish, Reuters

French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday Paris would review its military cooperation with Russia as part of a third level of sanctions if Moscow did not de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.

Sixteen Nations Participating in Norway’s Cold Response Military Exercise This Week

By Norwwegian Armed Forces

The main purpose of Cold Response is to train participants in how to conduct combat operations in cold weather conditions.

Russia’s Mistral Warship Sets Sail for First Time

By AP

A French-built warship designed to strengthen Russia’s ability to deploy troops, tanks and helicopter gunships is getting its first test run Wednesday — just as Western powers are trying to rein in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military threat to Ukraine.

France Contributed $294 Million to Subsidize British Carriers

By John Lichfield, Independent

The French government’s public spending watchdog protested this week that a defence co-operation agreement signed by Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair in 2006 led to “a French contribution pure and simple to the financing of [two] British aircraft carriers in their early development phase.”

France Investing a Billion Euros to Upgrade Cyber Defenses

By Reuters and AFP

From Marine Pennetier, Reuters:  France unveiled plans on Friday to bolster long-neglected defences against cyber attacks, with 1 billion euros ($1.36 billion) of investment foreseen to bring the country’s technology up to speed with NATO partners.

NATO’s New Power Triad: US, UK, and France Should Deepen Defense Cooperation

By James Stavridis and Leo Michel, Foreign Policy

At the strategic level, informal trilateral consultations among top U.S., British, and French policymakers and military officials are nothing new.

US-French Cyber Security Cooperation

By White House

The United States values working with France on cybersecurity, which is important for ensuring the vibrancy of our economies and enhancing our shared security.

Dungan Comments on Hollande State Visit

Nicholas Dungan, a nonresident senior fellow with the Council’s Program on Transatlantic Relations, was interviewed recently about French President François Hollande’s visit to the United States. In the remarks below, Dungan illuminates the interplay of French and American politics, the impact of Syria on the transatlantic relationship, and how this state visit is viewed from both an […]