Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces
It is a great honour to take part, along with you, in the 15th Summer Defence Conference, a key event for the entire armed forces community after the summer break.
The situation that France, Europe and, more generally, every country seeking to uphold basic freedoms are facing is critical. We have frequently been the victims of terrorist attacks and that is today an on-going threat. The international situation is especially unstable and worrisome. In the face of these conditions, our armed forces, as well as everyone at the Ministry, are fully committed to protecting France and the French people. I would like to salute their exceptional courage and devotion.
In this context, the Summer Defence Conference is an opportunity to stop and reflect. It is also an occasion to demonstrate our human, technical and industrial capabilities. It is, lastly, and maybe above all, a time for discussions and bridge-building between everyone involved in the armed forces community. This is an invaluable opportunity and I would like to personally thank the organisers and all of the partners who have made this 15th Summer Defence Conference possible. The Ministry of the Armed Forces has, even more so this year, taken its rightful role in this event by highlighting the excellence of its civil and military personnel, and the high quality of its equipment, which put us in the top ranks worldwide. I would also like to extend special thanks to the members of parliament who have honoured this conference with their presence.
“5 Years Dedicated to Defence: Threats, Aims and Means” is this year’s theme chosen for us to dwell on. That will underpin discussions on our defence policies in this key time at the start of the new administration, when we are conducting a strategic review and preparing a new military planning law.
The primary mission of the Ministry of the Armed Forces is to protect France and its people, and to defend our interests wherever they may be. To do so, our armed forces must have human and material resources that match the nature of the threats and their level of commitment. That is why I will fight for the indispensable increase in power of our defence resources. Enhancing European cooperation is also a priority, and the current situation gives us an opportunity to cross a decisive threshold in this respect. We must also upgrade the working conditions of the men and women striving to defend France and whose dedication is exemplary. I also seek to modernise the Ministry of the Armed Forces and ensure it is a full participant in the digital revolution. Lastly, we have to strengthen the bonds between our armed forces and the nation.
I have no doubt that the intense discussions of the next two days will make a definitive contribution to all of these topics. It is, in fact, necessary that we mobilise everyone, military and civilian personnel, elected authorities, industrialists, specialists and journalists, if we are to overcome the challenges we face. This summer conference in Toulon offers us yet again such an occasion, and it is a pleasure to see you all here.
The situation that France, Europe and, more generally, every country seeking to uphold basic freedoms are facing is critical. We have frequently been the victims of terrorist attacks and that is today an on-going threat. The international situation is especially unstable and worrisome. In the face of these conditions, our armed forces, as well as everyone at the Ministry, are fully committed to protecting France and the French people. I would like to salute their exceptional courage and devotion.
In this context, the Summer Defence Conference is an opportunity to stop and reflect. It is also an occasion to demonstrate our human, technical and industrial capabilities. It is, lastly, and maybe above all, a time for discussions and bridge-building between everyone involved in the armed forces community. This is an invaluable opportunity and I would like to personally thank the organisers and all of the partners who have made this 15th Summer Defence Conference possible. The Ministry of the Armed Forces has, even more so this year, taken its rightful role in this event by highlighting the excellence of its civil and military personnel, and the high quality of its equipment, which put us in the top ranks worldwide. I would also like to extend special thanks to the members of parliament who have honoured this conference with their presence.
“5 Years Dedicated to Defence: Threats, Aims and Means” is this year’s theme chosen for us to dwell on. That will underpin discussions on our defence policies in this key time at the start of the new administration, when we are conducting a strategic review and preparing a new military planning law.
The primary mission of the Ministry of the Armed Forces is to protect France and its people, and to defend our interests wherever they may be. To do so, our armed forces must have human and material resources that match the nature of the threats and their level of commitment. That is why I will fight for the indispensable increase in power of our defence resources. Enhancing European cooperation is also a priority, and the current situation gives us an opportunity to cross a decisive threshold in this respect. We must also upgrade the working conditions of the men and women striving to defend France and whose dedication is exemplary. I also seek to modernise the Ministry of the Armed Forces and ensure it is a full participant in the digital revolution. Lastly, we have to strengthen the bonds between our armed forces and the nation.
I have no doubt that the intense discussions of the next two days will make a definitive contribution to all of these topics. It is, in fact, necessary that we mobilise everyone, military and civilian personnel, elected authorities, industrialists, specialists and journalists, if we are to overcome the challenges we face. This summer conference in Toulon offers us yet again such an occasion, and it is a pleasure to see you all here.