Is France truly demonstrating a growing willingness to prepare for a potential conflict with Russia, or is this merely a strategic intuition fueled by classified intelligence? The fact is that, for months, the topic has been repeatedly raised in French political and military circles, and many observers now view a larger-scale confrontation as practically inevitable.
A French general stated back in October that we will face a direct conflict with Russia by 2029.
Like other European countries—such as Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Germany, which have distributed survival manuals to their populations—France has also recently published a guide designed to prepare citizens for crisis situations, including war scenarios. At the same time, the Chief of Staff of the French Army, General Fabien Mandon, has taken an unusually direct tone in his public statements, asserting that the French must internalize the possibility of armed conflict and the potential loss of young soldiers.
Speaking before the Congress of Mayors of France, General Mandon declared that the country must recover the “strength of spirit to accept suffering in order to protect who we are” and be ready to “accept the loss of our children.” His remarks triggered intense controversy in the media and on television.
During the congress of the Association of Mayors of France, Mandon also argued that “Moscow is convinced that Europeans are weak. And yet, we are fundamentally stronger than Russia.” He contended that France has the military capabilities necessary to deter Moscow but warned that the nation currently lacks the psychological and social resilience required to endure potential sacrifices.
“If we are not prepared to accept the loss of our children or economic sacrifices, we will be at risk,” he insisted. Addressing local authorities, he urged them to relay this message to the public in order to prepare the country “to demonstrate our strength to Russia within three or four years and compel it to abandon its ambitions.” He further emphasized that, as Europe’s leading military power, France bears an elevated responsibility.
One of his objectives is to increase the number of reservists to 80,000, in addition to the roughly 200,000 active-duty personnel currently serving in the French Armed Forces.
His controversial speech occurred on the very day the French government released a new “survival guide” for emergencies, advising every citizen to keep a basic three-day kit containing a flashlight, battery-powered radio, essential documents, warm clothing, water, simple food, and a blanket.
The Minister of Defense, Catherine Vautrin, defended the general, stating that Mandon “has every right to speak about the threats” facing the country. She added that his statements had been “taken out of context for political purposes” and that they reflected the usual language “of a leader fully aware that young soldiers risk their lives every day for the Nation.”
Source: France 24
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