As a former commander of the La Fayette fighter squadron, I can easily assess how old, rich, deemed necessary and expected, the links between French and American aviators are. This solidarity of thoughts, of ideas and of risk-running is not due to pure chance but illustrates a common view of issues and a shared willingness to provide the best panel of third dimension options to our respective authorities.

Moreover, it is the same with other European nations, so the real challenge is to find ways among Europeans to implement credible military capabilities, fully inserted, if necessary, within a transatlantic framework.

Our full participation in the NATO military structure is a real opportunity for European Security and Defence Policy. The first signs of this are already visible (counter-piracy operations under British, Greek and Spanish command off Somalia, the recent ability to discuss space surveillance issues within the European Defence Agency) and can be assessed daily during the debates taking place in EU bodies.