Macron set to reveal title of continent's biggest battleship

President Emmanuel Macron was poised to announce the name of France's upcoming aircraft carrier on Wednesday, as the country seeks to bolster its position as a major maritime power, with the new nuclear-powered flagship set to supplant the Charles de Gaulle as the nation's sole aircraft carrier.

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The future warship, slated for completion in 2038, will be the largest ever constructed in Europe, outclassing its predecessor in terms of size and capabilities.

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Ahead of the naming ceremony, Macron shared a 30-second video showcasing France's most notable achievements and technological advancements, set to stirring music and featuring footage of the Charles de Gaulle, submarines, troops, and jets in flight.

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The video, which also included glimpses of high-speed trains and astronaut Sophie Adenot, who has been in space since mid-February, was emblazoned with the phrase "France is wild" in white letters.

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In December, Macron announced the commencement of the new aircraft carrier's construction, a project estimated to cost 10 billion euros ($11 billion), with the vessel expected to enter service in 2038.

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At the time, Macron told troops at a French military base near Abu Dhabi that "in an age of predators, we must be strong in order to be feared", underscoring the importance of the new warship.

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In recent weeks, Macron has repeatedly emphasized France's maritime ambitions, including a mission to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that Iran has effectively closed since the United States and Israel carried out air strikes in the Islamic republic last month.

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However, Macron has ruled out any action until hostilities in the region subside, instead focusing on the upcoming unveiling of the warship's name at a shipyard in Indret, near Nantes.

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Gabriel Attal, the former prime minister and current head of Macron's centrist party, ran an informal poll on Facebook, asking "Which name do you prefer?" and providing four options, including Le Jeanne d'Arc, France's national heroine.

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Construction of the future warship's hull is expected to begin in the western port city of Saint-Nazaire in 2031, with France being one of only two countries in the world to operate nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, alongside the United States, which has 11 such vessels.

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The Charles de Gaulle, which was commissioned in 2001, is the largest warship ever built for the French Navy, but the new warship will surpass it in size, weighing nearly 80,000 tonnes and measuring approximately 310 metres in length.

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The new warship will have a crew of 2,000 and be capable of carrying 30 fighter aircraft, as well as combat drones, making it a significantly more formidable vessel than its predecessor.

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According to Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, the Chief of the Naval Staff, "in the future, the aircraft carrier will be more than just an aircraft carrier", highlighting the warship's expanded capabilities and role in France's maritime strategy.