French Media: Western Navies Plan to Reinforce Armaments

Reference News Network, February 8 According to a report from the French newspaper Le Figaro on February 3, at the naval conference held in Paris on February 2-3, senior naval officials from France, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States expressed concerns about the threats posed by Russian submarines.

Western navies are unhesitatingly preparing to respond to major conflicts, even believing that such a scenario could arise in the short term. Dutch Navy Commander Harold Liebregts stated at the conference: “We should enter a high-speed moment; we should prepare for war.” He indicated that if the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends and Moscow continues to maintain its current pace of weapons production, the risks could increase.

Liebregts warned: “We need stronger firepower at sea and on land.” He also specified the date by which the Dutch military should be prepared: January 1, 2028. U.S. Navy Chief of Operations Daryl Caudle believes that future U.S. warships could enhance firepower by “25%.”

UK First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Gwynn Jenkins stated that the Russians “will test us.” He believes that Russia continues to invest in the “Northern Fleet,” and its submarine capabilities have not diminished. “The Russians do not need to use too many means to trap us,” he said.

A military expert pointed out that if Western countries do not adopt an aggressive stance, a maritime confrontation would be unfavorable for them. Before the conference began, the senior naval officials from the five countries participated in a “war game” organized by the French Institute of International Relations, a simulation designed to put Western navies in a difficult position.

In the event of a confrontation with the West, Russia may bet on its mysterious and high-performance submarine fleet. U.S. Navy Chief of Operations General Caudle stated: “The Russians view submarines as their main vessels.” UK First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Jenkins said: “The Russian Navy has shown a willingness to operate in ambiguous gray areas.” He also noted that the UK has strengthened cooperation with the U.S. and French navies to share intelligence in response to threats.

French Chief of Staff General Fabian Mondin believes that if the West goes to war with Russia, “like in the previous world wars,” the oceans could become “key points for resisting the enemy,” and Russia may seek to strike communication and supply lines. He stated: “Our navy should be able to control straits, block passages, and entrances.” Italian Navy Chief Garibaldi Berutti-Bergotto remarked: “NATO's southern flank is not a stable area.” He pointed out that the Mediterranean could be a region prone to crises.

In the face of conflict risks, naval rearmament has become a priority option. General Mondin stated that naval warfare “will be very difficult.” He also mentioned: “My thought is to reduce casualties. Nowadays, the number of warships is insufficient, and the number of onboard missiles is also inadequate.”

The current Western warships are all designed during peacetime, and many of the weapons they carry are intended for multiple missions, lacking defensive means against equally matched opponents.

Western navies are also facing challenges in the context of operational area expansion, including the protection of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.

At the same time, they are also being called to the Indo-Pacific region, and the threat from the Houthi forces in Yemen in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf has not yet disappeared. Even in the Arctic region, the U.S. is concerned about future competition.

French Navy Chief General Nicolas Vaujour pointed out: “The threats in deep sea and space are increasing. The (navy’s) resilience and coordination should be improved.” This means there should be more weapons and equipment, as well as ensuring that naval vessels are in a state to respond more quickly.

However, the scale of European navies is already insufficient to meet such challenges. The French Navy, with 15 advanced vessels capable of executing overseas defense missions, lacks the resources to achieve all its ambitious goals. The situation of the Royal Navy is even worse, with only 1 of its 7 nuclear submarines currently deployable. To compensate for the shortfall in naval strength, the British Navy is focusing on fleet integration and the development of drones, and it also hopes that advancements in artificial intelligence and connectivity will enhance command responsiveness. However, the expected capabilities have not materialized as anticipated.

General Jenkins does not want to hide the facts and admits: “This is the result of decades of underinvestment.” He stated that efforts should be made in the future, “We will do our utmost.” If in the future, the U.S. allies are unable to divert attention due to focusing on other areas, European navies may need to take on their own responsibilities. (Translation/ Lu Longjun)