France Inaugurates Joint Military Base in Persian Gulf

“With this permanent military presence, France resolutely commits itself to the security of her Emirati friends,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated on May 26, in Abu Dhabi, during the inauguration of the first French permanent military base in the region. The French commander-in-chief was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, the Minister for Defense, Herve Morin, and General Jean-Louis Georgelin, chief of the defence staff. “This joint base is the direct consequence of the defense agreement which binds us to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since January 1995”, defense minister Herve Morin recalled in January 2008 [when the basing agreement was concluded—Ed.] In July 2007, the French Head of State, following a request by the UAE, had committed to develop a permanent military presence in the country, before publicly announcing it in January 2008. A few months later, in June 2008, the White Paper on defense and the national security spelled out the strategic importance of this region for France. The “rationalization of the military assets stationed outside of the national territory” must indeed lead France to include in its posture “one or two spring-boards in the Arabic-Persian Gulf”. The UAE, the world’s third-largest oil exporter, are located on southern bank of the Persian Gulf. They constitute, together with the Sultanate of Oman, the southern point of the Strait of Hormuz, through which passes nearly 40% of the planet’s oil production. To the North, on the other side of the Gulf, lies Iran. Bilateral operational co-operation, and a military presence within the framework of the defense agreements, are among the priority missions of this French military establishment. Its role will also include supporting French military assets deployed in the Gulf and the north of the Indian Ocean, and specifically the home port of the flagship of ALINDIEN, the French naval task force in the Indian Ocean. The Admiral commanding the French naval zone of the Indian Ocean will also, under the direct command of the chief of the defence staff, command all French joint forces deployed on the UAE base. The base itself will comprise three main components: a naval and support base, an air base and an Army battle group. About 100 French personnel are currently stationed at the base, rising to 250 in September, including 110 permanent staff. (In his speech, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said “over 500” French soldiers would be stationed in the UAE—Ed.) A detachment of three Mirage 2000 or Rafale fighters have been permanently stationed on the air base since October 1, 2008. A training center for desert operations, operated by the army contingent, will receive its first trainees at the end of 2009. The base’s inauguration was marked by (the hoisting) of French and Emirati flags in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Department of the Emirates, Sheik Seïf Ben Zayed Al-Nahyane, who stated that “because it contributes to the stability of the Gulf region, we see this co-operation as an important pillar of our foreign policy.” The President President’s visit also comprised an economic aspect, with prospects for the sale of French nuclear plants and of Rafale combat aircraft. This new French military establishment in the UAE will provide, said President Sarkozy, “an opportunity for the UAE forces to familiarize themselves with French equipment, and to appreciate their performance.” Although the above statement is short on specifics, sources say that the procurement of 60 Rafale fighters by the UAE is practically a foregone conclusion, and that contractors have already begun preparatory work for their production. However, the official contract will not be signed until final arrangements are concluded for the buy-back and disposal of the UAE’s present fleet of Mirage 2000-9 fighters, and the financing of certain Rafale improvements including the fitting of an AESA radar, uprated M-88 engines and certification of additional weapons, the sources say. The contract is worth 6 to 8 billion euros. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said on Tuesday the purchase of the Rafale fighters “was discussed," adding that "I can say there has been positive progress on this issue." In his own speech, however, Sarkozy made no mention of the Rafale sale. Although described as a single base, the French facility (known as Implantation Militaire Française aux Emirats Arabes Unis, or IMFEAU) will in fact comprise three different installations, including a French facility at Al Dhafra air base, berthing facilities at the port of Mina Zayed, and an army camp at Zayed. It will also include an intelligence-gathering installation. Left unsaid is the fact that, added to the permanent base it maintains in Djibouti, at the mouth of the Red Sea, the Abu Dhabi base will allow France to monitor and control of two of the world’s most strategic maritime passages, the Straits of Hormuz and of Bab el Mandel.

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