France has a Strong Military, and Can Use it to Bring the Fight to ISIS
- Alex Lockie
- Nov 17, 2015
- 1 min read
Place de la Republique, Paris, France.
Within 48 hours of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, France had already mobilized its air force to strike back at ISIS.
French President François Hollande immediately declared the Paris attack "an act of war."French Prime Minister Manuel Valls echoed the sentiment, vowing to "annihilate the enemies of the republic."
France has one of the most forward-deployed militaries in the world, with around 3,000 troops across Africa. France is the only country other than the US with a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and is one of only nine countries with nuclear weapons.
Leaders around the world, including US President Barack Obama, have pledged to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with France.
But France has plenty of muscle of its own, too.
"This principle is enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one Ally shall be considered an attack on all Allies." — NATO
The US invoked Article 5 after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
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