Abu Dhabi, UAE (CNN) -- France established Tuesday its first strategic foothold in the Gulf, when President Nicolas Sarkozy opened a French military base in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The new military presence, named the 'Peace Camp', will accommodate up to 500 French troops, and comprises a French facility at the Emirates' Al Dhafra air base. It can accommodate Mirage and Rafale jets and includes a naval base of about 20 acres at the port of Mina Zayed, which can handle any French naval vessel except aircraft carriers. There is also an army camp at Zayed, specializing in urban combat training, according to sources close to the government of UAE.
@highlight
French President Nicolas Sarkozy opens military base in United Arab Emirates
@highlight
Base can accommodate troops, jets and most of France's navy ships
@highlight
France is ready to shoulder its responsibilities
@highlight
Iran previously said it was not pleased at the French presence
He added that the base @placeholder gives France a strategic position on the vital Gulf shipping corridor, which carries about 40 percent of the world's petroleum supplies, and therefore, must be protected."
The multi-role @placeholder -- which has yet to find a foreign buyer -- could replace the Emirates' fleet of French Mirage 2000 combat planes.