Uniting Europe’s Fleets
Naval assets are not only expensive to build; they are extremely costly to operate, making navies among the first to be targeted by cuts in defense budgets. But, rather than reducing existing fleets' size, European leaders should aim to make them more cost-effective by merging their capabilities.
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PARIS – Of Europe’s 23 naval forces, only France’s possesses a fully operational aircraft carrier, the 40,000-ton flagship Charles de Gaulle. Although the United Kingdom is currently building two carriers of its own, the Royal Navy is years away from the capability to deliver instant airpower from the sea. Nevertheless, Europe is reasonably equipped to defend itself against external threats. It is less able, however, to withstand looming budget cuts.