A military operation is only conceived and justified in pursuit of political objectives: during its conduct, those objectives must be constantly kept in view. The positioning of the Chief of Defence Staff (Chef d’état-major des armées–CEMA) at the heart of the national crisis management decision-making process allows him to command operations being undertaken with all the necessary elements at his disposal.

The Decision-Making Process in France

In France, only the President of the Republic, head of all the services, can take the decision to commit our Armed Forces. The prior consultation of Parliament is not necessary (other than on declaration of war), even though exchanges are regularly organised with the Government or national representation.

In this way, when indicators of a potential crisis or a major incident threatening our nationals, French interests or peace in some part of the world appear, they are immediately analysed by different cells; specifically, at the Elysée, by the President of the Republic’s personal staff, at the Foreign Ministry by those departments involved and, at the Defence Staff HQ, by the Centre for the Planning and Conduct of Operations (CPCO).