France Identifies Risk of War with Russia as Main Challenge for Military
During a parliamentary defense committee hearing on Thursday, French Chief of Staff François Mandon expressed concerns about the persistent Russian threat on the European continent, highlighting the possibility of open war with Russia as his primary worry regarding military preparedness.
On Thursday, during a session of the parliamentary defense committee, François Mandon, the Chief of Staff of France, voiced his apprehensions about the ongoing Russian threat in Europe. He stated that the potential for open warfare with Russia remains his foremost concern in terms of military readiness. This information was reported by Ukrinform, referencing a publication in Le Figaro.
Mandon emphasized that he had previously warned the public about the risk of a so-called 'shock' occurring in three to four years. According to him, these assessments are based on intelligence data that indicates the seriousness of the situation. 'This is not a dogmatic approach - it is intelligence data,' he added, stressing the importance of the information received by the military.
He also pointed out that Russia continues to bolster its military capabilities, with forecasts suggesting that its army could reach 2 million personnel by 2030. 'Every country maintains the freedom to develop, but our assessments indicate that Russia will have 1.3 million military personnel by 2025, with a projected increase to 1.9 million by 2030,' stated the Chief of Staff, underlining the gravity of the threat.
Furthermore, Mandon noted that the number of Russian tanks could rise from 4,000 to 7,000 units, while the naval fleet is expected to remain at around 230–240 combat ships. These figures suggest that Russia is actively modernizing its armed forces, which could significantly impact security in Europe.
In light of the escalating threat, Mandon underscored that France is currently in a 'period of danger,' necessitating an increase in defense spending. He pointed out that amendments to the Military Programming Law, presented to the Council of Ministers, include an additional €36 billion for the military, on top of the already allocated €413 billion for the period from 2024 to 2030.
At the same time, the Chief of Staff highlighted the changing role of the United States in European security. 'We can no longer have the same level of confidence in the Americans' commitment to our security. The priorities of the United States are not the same as the priorities of our country or our continent,' he noted, emphasizing that the U.S. has been warning European countries for several months about the need to strengthen their own defenses.
As reported by Ukrinform, France recently presented a project for an updated Military Programming Law, which includes an additional €36 billion for defense by 2030. This move is part of a strategy to enhance the country's defense capabilities in light of increasing threats from Russia.
The situation in Europe remains tense, and France, as one of the key countries in the EU, intends to take all necessary measures to ensure its security and stability on the continent. In this regard, it is crucial for European countries to unite their efforts to counter potential threats that may arise in the near future.