Politico: France braces for strategic showdown with Russia

Next year marks a pivotal moment for the French army as it evolves into a force capable of countering Russian aggression.

In May, French soldiers will take part in a significant military exercise in Romania called Dacian Spring 2025, aimed at testing their rapid deployment capabilities to NATO's eastern flank — an essential skill should Russian President Vladimir Putin choose to target an alliance member, Caliber.Az reports citing Politico.

“We used to play war. Now there's a designated enemy, and we train with people with whom we'd actually go to war,” remarked General Bertrand Toujouse, head of the army's land command for Europe, during a recent press briefing. He emphasized that exercises like Dacian Spring serve as a crucial strategic signal.

Over the past few years, France's land forces have undergone a “profound transformation” to prepare for high-intensity conflicts akin to the war in Ukraine. The French army has also received new directives from NATO, which require it to deploy a war-ready division within 30 days by 2027, complete with necessary ammunition and supplies.

Achieving this goal is central to the upcoming Dacian Spring exercise, where the French army will aim to mobilize a war-ready brigade to Romania within 10 days. Success in this endeavour would reaffirm France's credibility among NATO allies and facilitate progress toward the 2027 objective.

A brigade consists of between 3,000 and 5,000 soldiers, while a division can range from 10,000 to 25,000. The main challenge lies in ensuring timely deployment to Romania. “There is still no military Schengen, and we need to decisively improve military mobility in Europe,” noted General Pierre-Eric Guillot, Toujouse's deputy, echoing concerns voiced by his superior.

The initial deployment of troops to Romania in 2022 faced significant hurdles, including bureaucratic red tape, lengthy border procedures, and inadequate transport for military equipment. In response, countries have been working to resolve these issues.

“We may still be hampered by a few customs measures, but we've made substantial progress in diversifying our routes,” Guillot explained. The military has transitioned from relying solely on trains to incorporating trucks and boats, even utilizing a combination of transport methods.

Toujouse expressed confidence that French soldiers will rise to the challenge in the upcoming test. However, to achieve the 2027 target, defence spending must align with France's non-binding seven-year military planning law, warned General Pierre Schill, the chief of the French army.

With France's new government working to curb the country's deficit, the defence budget is under pressure. “I expect the planned resources to be there in full,” Schill stated. “If there are major changes, we may delay the 2027 objective, citing insufficient stocks for combat readiness.”

“That's fiction. That's only a hypothesis,” he added, at least for now.

By Tamilla Hasanova