French Army Chief: Prepare for a Conflict with Russia in 3-4 Years

The Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, General Fabien Mandon, has issued a stark warning, stating that the French army must be prepared for a possible military conflict with Russia in the next three to four years. He voiced this call in a speech to members of the parliamentary committee on defense, which was quoted by the reputable newspaper Le Figaro.

According to General Mandon, the primary goal he has set for the army is full readiness for this probable scenario. "The first goal I have set for the army is to be ready for a conflict that will happen in three to four years, which will be a kind of test. It could manifest itself in the form of a hybrid war, which we are already going through, or possibly, in the form of a harsher clash," he emphasized.

The Chief of the General Staff did not hide that French military planning is based on the awareness of the threat emanating from Russia. He directly pointed to Moscow's possible intentions, warning that Russia might be tempted to continue its military operations on the European continent. "Russia is a country that may be tempted to continue the war on our continent, and that is a decisive element of my preparatory program," the general stated.

To counter these challenges, according to Mandon, France must first and foremost significantly increase its military budget. This statement of his is fully in line with the government's steps. The already developed draft defense budget provides for increasing the sector's funding to 57.1 billion euros in 2026, which is 13 percent higher than this year's figure. Thus, France's military spending will amount to 2.2 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), which testifies to a clear policy aimed at strengthening defense capabilities.