Official launching of the Head Quarters of the French Rapid Reaction Corps in Lille ( PC RRC-FR)

Saturday 1st October, General Henri Bentégeat, Chief of the Defence Staff, chaired a military ceremony marking the launching of the Head Quarters of the French Rapid Reaction Corps, in the presence of General Bernard Thorette, Chief of the General Staff. Twenty-two countries were represented at the ceremony in the French northern city of Lille. The launching of this structure fitting NATO norms will enable France to raise her profile within NATO by offering a command capacity for a force up to the corps level (60 000 men) in a joint or multinational environment. The RRC will be able to enter a theatre of operations and lead operations ranging from low to high intensity levels. Integrated in the chain of operational headquarters coming under the French Land Command, the RRC-FR HQ, could be used for missions within the EU, NATO, as part of an ad hoc coalition, or for national purposes in the future. Eventually the HQ will be constituted of approximately 400 personnel including 70 allies, among which there will be 10 British nationals. It is planned that the staff could rise up to 750 to face particular crises. By making France an essential partner within the NATO Reaction Force (NRF), the creation of the RRC-FR stands out as a new step in the process of getting more involved in NATO, a process engaged in the mid 90s. In 1995 France decided to participate again in a number of integrated NATO structures such as the Military Committee. In the past years France has chosen to bridge the gap in a pragmatic way, which reflects the will of French policy makers to reinforce the place of France within the Alliance, while at the same time retaining a measure of autonomy in the decision processes leading to the deployment of armed forces. Beyond the reconciliation with NATO it is the cause of European Defense which is furthered by the French creation, and the will of France to get the means to follow up on her international engagements that is reaffirmed. The current deployment of about 4000 soldiers within NATO operations in Afghanistan and the Balkans, making France the third largest contributor in troop numbers, is proof of this country’s determination to honour its international commitments.