French Naval Policy Outside of Europe.
Abstract
French naval policy, as outlined by senior naval officers and informed observers, is in many ways similar to French defense policy. In particular, the navy's views on strategic nuclear deterrence and the defense of metropolitan France are the logical maritime equivalent of those of the Army, Air Force, and Ministry of Defense. However, in the area of defense policy outside Europe, French naval writings go further than those of the other services or the ministry. The naval writers have defined an additional threat, 'indirect strategy,' that they feel France faces overseas, and they have adapted French deterrence theory in an effort to respond to it. The term 'indirect strategy' was originated by the noted French strategist General Andre Beaufre. It is one of two components of his concept of 'total strategy,' the other being 'direct strategy.' Direct strategy is the achievement of a decision (or of deterrence) by primarily military means, while 'the essential feature of indirect strategy is that it seeks to obtain a result by methods other than military victory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA091306
Entities
People
- Stephen S. Roberts
Organizations
- Center for Naval Analyses