France is a valuable American ally. Reflecting that truth on Friday, President Emmanuel Macron launched France’s newest attack submarine.
The inaugural boat of the Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine, the Suffren will support NATO and the U.S.-led international order. That international order makes us freer, safer, and wealthier. Like the man it is named for, the relentless 18th century Admiral Pierre André de Suffren (though, as my former professor Andrew Lambert records, not quite a Nelson), the submarine Suffren brings much to the table. Very quiet, Suffren retains capabilities in special forces delivery and cruise missile strike. That makes it a very useful addition to NATO’s portfolio.
French submariners are highly skilled and well-regarded by their U.S. counterparts. So if a future conflict with Russia ever occurs, the Suffren will bring critical capabilities to bear. These include: helping to deny Russian strike forces from accessing the Atlantic Ocean, delivering special forces behind enemy lines, and engaging Russian surface or land forces from a distance. The same capabilities would bring equal if not greater effect in a conflict against China.
Yet the Suffren does not act in a vacuum.
While French defense spending remains too low, it is increasing and already far more impressive than that of Belgium or Germany. And Macron is a good ally for other reasons. France has increased counterterrorism operations alongside the U.S., it has supported U.S. diplomatic initiatives, and it has shown fierce resolve complementing the NATO alliance.
These are things Americans should not take for granted.
