Naval Group. Can the election of Donald Trump change the situation for the sale of submarines?

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While the balance of the world order appears very precariouswhat consequences can the return to business of re-elected Donald Trump have, the Wednesday November 6, 2024, president of the United States of America ?

For the chief of staff of the armed forces Thierry Burkhard, interviewed by L’Expressthere is clearly a new situation that is taking hold.

An upheaval in the defense systems market?

« The world's center of gravity has shifted towards Asiaand it is quite logical that this is where the United States concentrates its force, ”explains the soldier, before discussing the role of the Americans in thesecurity of the European continent.

“They play an important role, particularly through I'll take it. And today, the Atlantic Alliance is seen by the vast majority of European countries as the collective defense tool of the European continent.

In this context, the chief of staff of the armed forces warns : “European countries must realize that one day the Americans will perhaps not be as present as we would like, because they will no longer want to or will not be able to. And on that day, you must not look at yourself and say: The Americans are no longer there, what are we going to do? ».

And at geopolitical situationdefense is therefore in the process of evolving, can we also imagine a shake-up in the defense systems market ?

American interference for the future Canadian contract?

Is a company like Naval Group, committed in numerous competitions around the world should, for example, be worried about this new situation? Present at the Euronaval show in Paris Nord Villepinte, CEO Pierre Eric Pommellet expressed his feelings.

Trump's re-election is obviously a global event. We will say that the world is holding its breath. However, it is still premature to draw conclusions. Especially since we know well that between speech and reality or between the campaign and real life, it is not always the same thing… The best way to engage the future is therefore to wait a little.

In his speech, the leader of Naval Group also partly joins Thierry Burkhard on the notion of European solidarity.“We can indeed wonder about the situation of Europe in today's world following this election in the United States, without forgetting China or Russia “, he warns.

And to say: “ We are all convinced Europeanswe all want to do things together, whether there is European sovereignty which is expressed, in particular through these defense acquisitions. Recently, we see Europe adopting a Defense policy, a commissioner, budgets. We can therefore count on the European naval industry to propose topics of cooperationgrouping in order to protect the sea and oceanswith sovereign assets.

However, the CEO of Naval Group is not fooled by certain habits, Donald Trump or not. Particularly when asked about the future Canadian choice for its submarines a competition in which the French industrialist will enter.

“Will the United States influence the Canadian choice? Very probably, as they do on NATO's choices,” explains Pierre Eric Pommellet. “Defense matters are obviously political matters . Influences, political games, alliances therefore have a very direct influence on defense systems. For example, when we sell frigates in Greece, we are not only selling boats. We sell them under an agreement, state to state, under astrategic partnershipwith a country. Same thing in the Netherlands, the admiral commanding theFrench submarine forceswas there when we signed the contract. It’s not trivial.”

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