Shock: France prepares for war

General Mandon reminded that he had already addressed this issue in his speech before members of the French Parliament, warning that the army must be ready for a possible conflict with Russia within the next three or four years.

In an interview for Quest France, Mandon said that French President Emmanuel Macron had asked him to propose options to ensure the continuous protection of the French people and the country’s interests — a topic he also discussed in his address to members of the Defense Committee of the French Parliament on October 22.

“I shared my observations with the representatives of the people so that we can anticipate events and make the right decisions. I see Russia’s evolution — in 2008, it attacked Georgia; in 2014, it annexed Crimea; in 2022, it was Ukraine. Russia sees Europe as weak. I know it is militarily reorganizing to be capable of engaging in combat against NATO countries. We must prepare for that,” Mandon stated.

When asked what evidence led him to this conclusion, Mandon replied that it was a combination of various traces and intelligence data.

“This assessment is shared by our close allies. The head of the German intelligence service recently spoke about it — Germany’s perception is the same as ours, and so is Britain’s. The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff is also extremely concerned about Russia and its increasingly close ties with various powers — Iran, China, and North Korea. North Koreans are fighting against Ukraine on our continent. Russia has already globalized the Ukrainian conflict,” Mandon emphasized.

He said that, in preparation for a potential conflict with Russia, French forces regularly take part in large-scale exercises under conditions simulating serious combat with a powerful adversary such as Russia.

Mandon also announced the organization of a new exercise next year, titled “Orion 2026,” which will involve the armed forces of France as well as allied nations.

The general stressed that he considers the involvement of the entire French society crucial for protection against the aggression of another state.

“A shock of this kind requires much more than just the armed forces — it requires the support of the whole nation. Russia has studied our societies and knows that our strength lies in unity. If it succeeds in fragmenting and dividing us, it can win,” Mandon warned.

As examples of attempts to destabilize French society, he cited fake coffins placed in front of the Eiffel Tower in June and pig heads that appeared in front of several mosques in France at the beginning of September.