France pushes to strengthen Europe's naval power amid maritime threats

France is using this week's Euronaval defence exhibition near Paris to press for stronger European naval capabilities as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and strikes on vessels in the Black Sea keep key maritime corridors under pressure. The event, held from 3 to 6 November, has drawn international delegations to what is described as the world's largest marine and naval defence trade show. French officials are presenting the gathering as part of a wider effort to reinforce strategic autonomy at sea.

At the opening of the event, Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said France was renewing its attack submarines, frigates and support vessels. She also said the country was preparing for its future aircraft carrier, the France Libre, and the SNLE 3G, a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that will replace the current generation used to maintain continuous at-sea deterrence. The minister's remarks placed naval modernisation at the centre of France's defence message.

The push comes as maritime security has become a more visible concern for European governments. The supporting material links the issue to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and to Russia's escalating strikes on maritime vessels in the Black Sea. It also notes that France has intensified efforts since September 2025 to target Russia's shadow fleet, with authorities intercepting and boarding at least six tankers suspected of being part of that network.

Officials have raised concerns about irregular or fraudulent flag registrations. France's role is significant because it has the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world and is the only European country to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It also has one of the continent's most balanced submarine fleets and is the world's second-largest arms exporter after the United States.

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Those capabilities give Paris a prominent position in European debates over naval readiness, especially at a time of uncertainty over the transatlantic defence partnership. The broader context is a renewed focus on naval power, unmanned systems and industrial capacity. On Tuesday, the French government signed a new agreement to build a domestic ecosystem of drone manufacturers able to respond quickly to navy operational needs.

The supporting material says unmanned and autonomous naval systems have taken centre stage at this year's Euronaval edition, reflecting how militaries are adapting to changing threats at sea. France's recent defence messaging has also been shaped by President Emmanuel Macron's March speech at a ballistic-missile submarine base, where he pledged to increase the country's nuclear warhead stockpile for the first time since 1992. What remains unclear is how quickly these plans will translate into new capabilities and how much support they will receive from European partners.

The article does not give a timeline for the delivery of the future carrier or the SNLE 3G programme, and it is not clear how far the drone manufacturing agreement will accelerate procurement. For now, Euronaval is being used as a platform to signal that France sees maritime security, industrial resilience and deterrence as increasingly linked priorities.

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