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The nature of conflict is evolving: with the return of high-intensity warfare it is becoming distinctly worse, bringing with it the risk of escalation, which directly involves the maritime environment. The French Navy has to adapt to these developments whilst taking on board the additional demands of the protection of our interests and of our overseas departments, regions and collectivities. That will require continuous modernisation of its capabilities.

The naval-air group ( groupe aéronaval—GAN) is a major asset for command of the maritime space as long as its use can evolve and adapt to a new type of high-intensity conflict. This supposes a greater range of missions and equipment, which would include drones. That in turn demands reactivity and great adaptability, supported by interoperability between allies.

Naval combat is entering a fifth age in which networked warfare employing a great number of effectors has become reality. It compels us to reflect upon the new demands this development entails. The naval-air group ( groupe aéronaval—GAN) will continue to constitute a major advantage but only if it is adapted to acquire the capability to operate in all environments.

After the intermediate maintenance period which began last May, the aircraft carrier began its work-up in order to be fully operational in the spring of 2024. The maintenance period included the modernisation of installed equipment and improvement in crew living spaces. The crew played its full part in this work and is now fully concentrated on the future operations of the CVN CDG.

Sea lines of communication (SLOCs) are essential, indeed vital for world economies. They require us to take into account the growth in direct threats, such as those in the Red Sea. Control of the seas is equally essential and requires greater naval forces and greater tonnages of future ships, such as the French new-generation aircraft carrier ( porte-avions de nouvelle génération—PANG).

The aircraft carrier and its naval-air group is a major political tool by virtue of its visibility and its intrinsic military power. It is for that reason that the United States has deployed two carrier strike groups to the Middle East since the crisis that started on 7 October 2023: it sends messages to the various protagonists in order to avoid uncontrolled escalation. The aircraft carrier is a tool for naval diplomacy.

Whilst the land battle attracts most attention, the war in Ukraine is also a naval one, with control of the Black Sea at stake. The Black Sea has become a major military theatre which offers a number of lessons to be learned. Among them, the irrelevance of any distinction between maritime and naval, as demonstrated by the issues of commercial traffic for both sides.

The oceans are a space of confrontation, competition and cooperation. In the past, the sea was frightening, and gave rise to famous myths such as Odysseus's wanderings in search of Penelope. Nowadays the race for control of this common property increases tensions and rivalry between maritime powers. Today, more than ever, the oceans are a space for the creative.

Between 1669 and 1765, the kings of France appointed administrative officers to service in the Americas. Theirs were high-risk missions, not least with the long Atlantic crossing and its own particular hazards. That aside, these appointments could bring their holders a number of advantages, including wealth and recognition by the king.

Rockall is an uninhabitable rock in the North Atlantic with a surface area of barely 780 square meters, which has long been the subject of disputes regarding its sovereignty. It is owned by the United Kingdom yet it, or the sea areas that surround it, have been the subject of claims by Ireland, Iceland and Denmark—all attracted by the fishing grounds. The case for Rockall is far from settled.

Piracy has been with us since ancient times, its aim being to pillage for wealth. Commerce raiding from the 16th century on saw the arrival of the corsaire (privateer) who acted on behalf of the sovereign. Today, there remains a degree of nostalgia for the dashing pirate of the past, especially in the cinema, and yet piracy remains a brutal reality in some of the world's seas, obliging state actors to intervene.

Baluchistan overlaps Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, which puts the region at the heart of the tensions between these countries. These tensions take on different forms such as smuggling, ethnic rivalry, sovereignty disputes and the differing natures of the political regimes. Tehran thought it could exploit the Baluchistan question but Islamabad was able to respond effectively.

The Sahel has suffered chronic instability for many years, the result in particular of destabilising Islamist terrorism. Poor governance, corruption and insecurity have adversely affected economic development, which has generated flows of migrants to the north and to Europe. Democracy as a political structure has been undermined and is now called into question by the Africans themselves.

The south Caucasus is a mosaic of states and nationalities of greatly differing destinies. The heritage of the USSR has brought fragility to the new countries and led to conflicts between them, fanned by age-old rivalries. With the war in Ukraine, Moscow remains an essential, albeit challenged player. Other powers are looking with interest at the Caucasus.

Anti-missile defence is essential to the Indian concept of deterrence, which relies on both nuclear and conventional means. Air defence of Indian territory is looking towards increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its operational performance. This will require major developments in weapon systems and their security.

The battle of Dien Bien Phu began 80 years ago. The tactical decision made by the French command led to the defeat, yet the prime responsibility for it resulted from the inability of successive governments of the Fourth Republic to set political and strategic objectives for the future of French Indochina. Repeated lack of decision led to the dramatic consequences.

The disputes between Venezuela and Guyana have recently worsened in the Essequibo border region. Caracas enviously eyes the potential resources of that part of the Amazonian forest. The United States and other partners such as the United Kingdom are committed to reducing tension and the risk of escalation.

The series Cœurs noirs (Black Hearts), recently seen on the TV channel France 2 focuses on French special forces on a complex mission set in Iraq. The realism of the scenario and the quality of production are worthy of mention: whilst the situation is fictional, they convey the operational reality of a little-known force.