By Tamora Vidaillet
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed onTuesday to create a smaller, more mobile and better equippedarmy able to respond to modern day threats ranging fromterrorism to computer attacks.
Launching a new defence policy document, Sarkozy said themilitary needed to direct more resources to help soldiers inthe field and put new emphasis on security within France'sborders.
France is expected to cut more than 50,000 military posts,affecting the army, navy and airforce. When the restructuringis complete, the military should have 225,000 personnel.
The number of troops who can be sent abroad will fall to30,000 from their current level of around 50,000, with a5,000-strong rapid intervention reserve.
"For 15 years, France has not been threatened by invasion.The threats have changed in nature, they are diverse andshifting," he said.
"From now on, France's defence is as much at stake withinFrance as thousands of kilometres away," he said.
In terms of military strategy in general, Sarkozy alludedto an already expressed desire to participate more fully inNATO structures. Analysts say that his aim is to win supportfor deeper EU defence cooperation.
Savings will free up money to invest in cutting-edgeequipment such as satellites and to improve a fleet of ageinghelicopters.
Addressing critics who have accused the government ofdowngrading France's military prowess, Sarkozy said he aimed tomake France even more of a military power than it was today.
France has 12,000 troops on foreign missions fromAfghanistan to the Balkans but they have been hampered by poorequipment and a shortage of helicopters and air transport.
More than half of the military's personnel performadministrative and support functions, with just 40 percent inoperational and combat roles.
France's status as a nuclear power with a strong militaryis a cornerstone of policy and Sarkozy has pledged to keepdefence spending steady at around 2 percent of gross domesticproduct.
But Sarkozy acknowledged the country's strained publicfinances had forced it to cut costs and seek more value formoney.
Sarkozy said France would spend 3 billion euros (2.4billion pounds) more per year than it did previously to equipits forces.
The commission charged with carrying out the defence reviewsaw no reason to oppose France's return to NATO militarycommand, he said.
But in order to do so, Sarkozy said France, which withdrewits forces from NATO command in 1966, must keep control of itsnuclear arsenal and would not relinquish command of its ownforces.
