Tampa has been welcoming the French military since 2001. Hereâs why. | Column
French and U.S. military forces have cooperated in coalitions to combat terrorism.
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French soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force patrol in a residential area of Kabul, Afghanistan s capital, in October 2004. [ EMILIO MORENATTI | AP ]
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Editorâs note: French Ambassador Philippe Etienne will be touring Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base this week, where France has had military service members since 2001. He is traveling to Florida to witness Thursdayâs scheduled launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which will carry Thomas Pesquet to the International Space Station, where he will become the first French astronaut to be its commander.