Q&A · 1:00:40-1:02:07

Why carriers make more sense for France than Germany

Overseas territory and different NATO responsibilities create different carrier requirements.

Question

Why do aircraft carriers make sense for France but not Germany?

Short answer

France has widely separated overseas territory and different NATO responsibilities, while Germany's commitments are more geographically concentrated.

Notes

France's widely separated overseas territory creates commitments beyond continental Europe. Germany's territory is much more geographically concentrated. Their NATO missions and military options also differ. Those differences support the case for French carriers. France has integrated its overseas possessions into the country more closely than Britain, whose more detached arrangements are criticised as confused and contradictory.