Armed forces
France ranks among the major nuclear powers. Its arsenal has around 300 nuclear warheads, which can be transferred to 6 one thousand kilometers. The armed forces numbered about 259 thousand. Soldiers (2002) in the Army 137 thousand. France, despite the fact that he is a member of NATO (since 1949.), From 1966 did not take part in military structures-state pact that is to be changed, because back to the Alliance’s military structures, President Sarkozy announced. The four largest French permanent garrisons outside France are in Africa. The largest is located in Djibouti (including the Offshore Foreign Legion), the other on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean and in Senegal and Gabon in West Africa. French troops stationed in Ivory Coast, Chad and the Central African Republic. In addition, in French Guiana (South America)., And in Djibouti, on the island of Mayotte (O. Indian) and the archipelago of islands Mururoa in French Polynesia in the Pacific are the Foreign Legion units overseas.
