New France-U.S. Military Alliance
Charles de Gaulle (right) and USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
DEBKAfile Exclusive: USS Enterprise Strike Group and French Charles De Gaulle carrier hold their first joint maneuver in Mediterranean
July 26, 2007, 10:00 AM (GMT+02:00)
The USS nuclear carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), en route for the Persian Gulf, entered the Mediterranean Sea Monday July 23 for joint maneuvers with the French Charles De Gaulle carrier. Rafale M fighters took off from its deck, touched down briefly on Enterprise runways and returned to the parent ship. This is the first time ever that French fighter-bombers have landed on an American carrier and used its facilities.
DEBKAfile’s Middle East and Washington sources say that the closely integrated maneuver is part of the growing cooperation between the Bush administration and the new Nicolas Sarkozy presidency on burning Middle East issues.
DEBKAfile’s sources have previously pointed to a dramatic opening-up of interchanges between Paris, Tehran and Hizballah. They now affirm that this new track was launched with tacit approval from Washington.
Saturday, July 28, on the heels of the joint naval-aerial exercise, French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner is due in Beirut for a visit prepared by France’s former ambassador in Damascus, Jean-Claude Cousseran. Early next week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrive in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Rice will also visit Jerusalem and Ramallah.
The contours are thus emerging of a division of labor whereby the United States concentrates on Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Israel-Palestinian dispute, leaving France to deal directly with Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Sarkozy and his emissaries move into position as the potential go-between for Washington and Tehran, while Britain’s Tony Blair acts for the Quartet to mold Palestinian institutions of government.
The gambit on which Washington and Paris have embarked together takes into account Iran’s elevated standing as a topnotch Middle East power. This partnership and the new horizon opening up are explored in detail in the next DEBKA-Net-Weekly out on Friday.
The evolving Washington-Paris track has a negative potential for Israel, which the Olmert government has not yet appreciated.
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You’d think named for a guy with such a big nose they’d have built a bigger boat.
July 26th, 2007 at 4:07 amI think the Carrier Charles de Gaulle was already in the persian gulf a few month ago ; I have to check back
July 26th, 2007 at 4:20 amJohnny
July 26th, 2007 at 4:21 amLook how small the French carrier is hahaha. That thing is archaic, it makes the Enterprise look like a spring chicken. Im interested to see what Sarkozy does next.
July 26th, 2007 at 4:55 amThe US, Fance and Britian.
As a counter balance to Iran and Syria?
Works for me. Where is Germany? Right Retour?
Sarkozy is getting to work it seems. Hehehe!
July 26th, 2007 at 5:05 amAll of a sudden the frogs want to get chummy again. Humm? Anything to do with the muslim rampage last year? Do you think?
July 26th, 2007 at 5:10 amhttp://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=105249
view the diaporama
since the last 15th of march “Charles De Gaulle” wasin persian gulf waters
a video
http://www.dailymotion.com/domi00/video/xqz7j_porte-avions-charle-de-gaulle-rafal
July 26th, 2007 at 5:10 amhi tedders, seems Chirac made an effort before he said good bye though
Ezrider, Charles de Gaulle is returning home, and 2 new carriers are on projects with UK
July 26th, 2007 at 5:14 ammy little jamon, muslins are already in Sarkozy’s government
July 26th, 2007 at 6:22 amHow would you like to be a carrier pilot looking for that French carrier at night as opposed to looking for the much larger American one? I’d rather be seeking out a large speck in the middle of an ocean, than a puny one.
But if Nikky-boy wants to change the thinking in his government from an antiUS stance to a pro-US stance, then I would personally welcome him aboard.
July 26th, 2007 at 6:23 am“But if Nikky-boy wants to change the thinking in his government from an antiUS stance to a pro-US stance, then I would personally welcome him aboard.”
Then welcome away Danny-boy. Sarkozy is already proving his point with words and deeds. So have the French voters, as that elected him, to lead them.
July 26th, 2007 at 7:58 amDespite it’s smaller size, I wouldn’t want to get into a fight with it. The Rafales they carry are just as dangerous as our Hornets. The ship has comprable defensive systems to the Enterprise as well.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:56 amhttp://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/base/mediatheque/videos/rafale_sur_uss_enterprise
seems your guis appreciated that kind of hornet though
July 26th, 2007 at 10:20 amFrance, “Alons enfant de la patria”, how my doin’? That’s all I remember from two years of high school French. Plus the French magazines with a lot of pictures.
July 26th, 2007 at 11:25 ampas mal Johnny, “Allons enfants de la patrie”
hehe, what kind of magazines were your watching ?
I expect that they were full of “pin-up” ? 
July 26th, 2007 at 12:45 pmFrance, je regret, nothing racier than Paris Match. While a teen-ager a friend of mine’s mother being from France continued to subscribe after coming to the US, first half of the ’60s.
July 27th, 2007 at 12:51 am“Paris-Match”, at this time, was a “people” magazine we could find by hairdressers
July 27th, 2007 at 2:07 pm