French Military Policy: An Interview with Dominic Moisi

Abstract

MASON: What is the French nuclear doctrine and how has it evolved during the 25 years since de Gaulle first initiated the force defrappe?

MOISI: Well, the key is “independence.” From the beginning de Gaulle thought of nuclear weapons as what would give France diplomatic independence in the short run and, in the long run, some kind of military independence, when the weapons being built would reach some credibility. The ultimate goal and the ultimate rationale of the weapons is that in a nuclear world one cannot fully rely on alliances. This is a world where selfishness is a direct product of nuclear weapons.

| Table of Contents