The Chief of the French Army Staff warns that France must prepare for a possible confrontation with Russia in the next three to four years.

General Fabien Mandon, the Chief of Staff of the French Army, stated that France must be prepared for a "shock" in the next three to four years, considering the risks of a confrontation with Russia. He justified this necessity by the rearmament efforts of Paris, mentioning that the security situation is precarious both in Europe and in the Middle East. Mandon emphasized that Russia could be tempted to continue its aggressions on the European continent, and German intelligence services recently warned about the risks of a direct military conflict with NATO.

Although he acknowledges the threats, the general stated that Europe has superior economic and industrial resources compared to Russia, which gives them an advantage in defense. In this context, the defense budget will increase by 13% by 2026, reaching 57.1 billion euros, which represents 2.2% of GDP. Mandon emphasized that such rearmament is essential not only to face the Russian threats but also to combat terrorism and other global crises.