French President Macron reveals plan to build $12bn aircraft carrier on UAE visit

New warship set to replace ageing Charles de Gaulle vessel

French troops show off a Leclerc tank as President Emmanuel Macron visits the 5th Cuirassier Regiment's base in Zayed Military City, Abu Dhabi. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron has set out plans to develop a new $12 billion aircraft carrier, which would be the largest warship built in Europe.

The vessel would replace the ageing Charles de Gaulle warship and serve to bolster France's maritime defences.

Mr Macron announced the project, known as "Porte-Avions Nouvelle Generation" (Pang), while speaking to troops based at a French military base in Abu Dhabi, Reuters reported.

President Sheikh Mohamed meets France’s Macron in Abu Dhabi

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The French government said the ship would be at sea by 2038, when the Charles de Gaulle is expected to retire.

Work on ‌nuclear propulsion components began last year and the final order must be placed ‍under the 2025 budget.

"The decision to launch this vast programme was taken this week," Mr Macron said. The project is set to boost France's industrial base, in particular small and medium-sized businesses, he added.

French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the warship would replace the Charles ⁠de Gaulle, which entered service in 2001, after 15 ​years of planning and construction.

French President Macron attends military drills in Abu Dhabi

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On Monday, Mr Macron attended military drills in Abu Dhabi in a further show of the robust strategic links between the long-standing allies.

In 2019, the UAE and France signed a military co-operation agreement on the 10th anniversary of their original bilateral defence partnership being sealed.

In January, the UAE received its first batch of Dassault Rafale fighter jets under a "historic" Dh63.56 billion ($17.3 billion) defence deal with France.

The Ministry of Defence said the delivery of the planes was in support of a wider effort to modernise the country's defence capabilities, including upgrading its air force fleet.

Eighty state-of-the-art fighter jets will be produced as part of the deal with French company Dassault Aviation.

An agreement to buy the planes was made in December 2021, after talks between President Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Mr Macron at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Ministry of Defence said at the time it was to replace its Mirage fleet with the Rafale fighters. They are considered one of the world's most advanced multirole combat warplanes, state news agency Wam said.

Macron makes UAE visit

The French leader began a working visit to the Emirates on Sunday, during which he has held high-level talks with President Sheikh Mohamed aimed at strengthening close ties between the nations.

During the meeting at the Zayed National Museum, Sheikh Mohamed exchanged greetings with Mr Macron ahead of the approaching New Year, Wam reported.

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron discussed the historic and strategic relations between the two countries, and how to strengthen them.

Sheikh Mohamed hosted a lunch in honour of the French President. The pair focused on building on economic ties, investment and cultural fields, in addition to renewable energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability.