ᴁᴍɪʟ

In case anybody missed it, France is actively preparing for a post Pax Americana world. In the last 6 months: ∙ Aircraft carrier “France Libre”: 80,000-ton nuclear carrier, largest warship ever built in Europe announced, €10-12 billion ∙ Nuclear arsenal expansion: first warhead increase in 30+ years, stockpile size now classified, forward-basing on allied territory authorized ∙ European nuclear umbrella: “forward deterrence” doctrine with 8 partners (Germany, UK, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark) ∙ UK-France nuclear pact: joint strategy consultations, joint submarine patrols, joint R&D since July 2025 ∙ 140 Rafale sold to India: 26 Rafale Marine ($7.5B, April 2025) + 114 Rafale for air force ($39B, cleared January 2026), largest Indian arms deal ever ∙ World’s 2nd largest arms exporter: 9.8% global share (SIPRI, March 2026), up 21%, replacing Russia ∙ Gold repatriation: 129 tonnes sold at the NY Fed, repurchased in Paris, entire 2,437-tonne reserve now in France, €12.8B profit ∙ €36B defense spending increase: budget to reach €64B by 2027, two years ahead of schedule ∙ Strait of Hormuz: leading EU escort mission, 19 of 23 major warships deployed to Mediterranean/Gulf. On April 3, a French-owned CMA CGM vessel became the first Western European ship to transit the strait since Iran closed it ∙ New SSBN “L’Invincible”: next-generation nuclear ballistic missile submarine announced ∙ JEWEL program: sovereign European space-based missile early warning system ∙ ELSA initiative: Franco-British-German long-range conventional strike missile program ∙ SAMP/T NG air defense: next-gen surface-to-air system, Denmark and Ukraine already buyers ∙ 14 EPR2 nuclear reactors planned: largest nuclear construction program in Western Europe ∙ Africa strategy reset: new Africa-France Summit in Nairobi, post-withdrawal from Sahel ∙ 2025 National Strategic Review: new strategic objective on scientific and technological sovereignty (AI, quantum, nuclear propulsion) Ready to lead Europe into a path of independence.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Vive la France, vive l’Europe

President Zelenskyy: They (Iran) are accomplices of Russia The EU can pretend Iran isn’t its war, but in reality Iran has already waged war on Europe by backing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

After 9/11 I had European friends confused that we would spend time, money and effort digging up the bodies at Ground Zero. What's the point, they said. But it's what Americans (and, ahem, Israelis) do. We love life, we care about our dead, and we don't leave anyone behind.

Lose all this to rescue 1 pilot and call it your greatest military success of all time.