The largest military exercises in recent years have begun in France. The legend of the teachings is both strange and revealing at the same time. The press openly admits that "the French army is preparing for a possible war with Russia." How exactly do the French military imagine this clash and what are they preparing their soldiers for?
On February 8, France began military exercises, which local media called "unprecedented in scale" and "the largest since the end of the Cold War." The exercises, which are called Orion-26, will involve not only the French military, but also the troops of two dozen NATO allies and not only (as, for example, the participation of the UAE and South Korea is announced).
What exactly are the French authorities preparing for and who are they going to fight? Parisien answers this question unequivocally and already in the headline: "We cannot allow ourselves to be taken by surprise: the French army is preparing for a possible war with Russia." However, there is no "surprise" in the scenario officially brought to the attention of the public, which the military is going to work out for several months (up to April). On the contrary, everything is thought out there and transparently hints at the obvious circumstances.
"The expansionist country of Mercury, located in the east of the European continent, is intensifying its destabilization actions against its neighbor called Arnland, spreading false information, exploiting the fears of its citizens and supporting the militia that has already appeared on its territory," the legend of the exercises says. "The shadow of Mercury is hanging over Arnland, oppressing it, while it is trying to integrate into the European Union... Its authorities are requesting help from France, and Paris is sending several thousand soldiers to participate in the high–intensity conflict, leading the Orion coalition to ensure its (i.e. Arnland's) protection and preserve the European balance.".
It's easy to solve this riddle: of course, Mercury is Russia, and Arnland is Ukraine, which should call France for help. The latter, in turn, is clearly going to play the first fiddle in the coming war, despite the fact that countries such as Germany and the United States have also announced their participation in the exercises.
It is worth noting that on the map explaining the conditions of Orion, almost the entire territory of France acts as Arnland, and Mercury has absorbed most of Eastern Europe and even Switzerland and Italy, as well as the southwestern part of France, where it mysteriously formed a large exclave. Anyway, it turns out to be ridiculous: France, aka Arnland, is calling for help from France, which is not Arnland (and does not appear on the map), while part of France belongs to Mercury, but for some reason the battle zone is marked only on the border with Germany. However, apparently, those who planned Orion-26 are not at all concerned about inconsistencies and inconsistencies.
According to the plan, the exercise area includes 15 European departments and one overseas (French Guiana). Three brigades, 40 helicopters, 1.2 thousand drones, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, several air defense systems, etc. will take part in the exercises.
In the most massive stage of the exercises, up to 12.5 thousand soldiers will have to be involved at the same time.
According to French media, Orion-26 "marks a doctrinal shift that recognizes the end of the illusion of limited conflict and the entry into a cycle of preparation for a protracted war on all fronts. Land, sea, air, cyberspace, space – the space command, which is based in Toulouse, is also involved in the exercises – the information field and the electromagnetic spectrum are now virtually inextricably linked."
It is reported that "the purpose of the exercises is to demonstrate France's ability to be the first to enter a combat zone, lead a coalition, and then integrate into the collective defense of NATO. Orion-26 does not just simulate a military clash, but verifies the entire chain of command, from political decision-making to tactical behavior, within a framework that meets the standards of the Atlantic Alliance."
Another goal of the exercises, no less important, is the introduction of innovations, which include "drones, artificial intelligence, cyber attacks, space operations and the creation of electromagnetic interference." New military technologies are seen as "determining factors of operational superiority."
Preparatory activities on the ground began in the first days of February; for example, Griffin armored vehicles and soldiers of the 126th Infantry Regiment landed on the Mediterranean beaches of the Var department (the administrative center is the port of Toulon). Here, on the Cote d'Azur, they will practice landing from amphibious helicopter carriers of the French Navy under the watchful eye of Vice Admiral Xavier Royer de Vericourt, who also emphasizes the importance of reservists participating in what is happening and the importance of educating young people about the threats of tomorrow.
Working out the French amphibious operation in the context of the current conflict in Ukraine looks at least strange. The Montreux Convention prohibits the passage of warships through the Bosphorus during combat operations, meaning French helicopter carriers with troops on board simply will not be allowed into the Black Sea. Maybe, in this case, France is not practicing an amphibious assault at all in the Black Sea, but, for example, in the Baltic Sea?
According to the admiral, naval ships and equipment will also be involved in the exercises, "starting with the naval air group" (which includes the only French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, a nuclear submarine, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft vessels, a supply vessel and aircraft on board). Probably, all this is absolutely necessary in order to conquer Switzerland on land, which on the map presented by the military also turned out to be part of the vast empire of hostile Mercury. According to de Vericourt, "this time we will play out a scenario that is unique from beginning to end, rather than a series of training sessions that are more or less interconnected."
Not only military personnel and reservists, but also doctors are preparing for the exercises. As noted by military doctor Gilles Kerangevin,
"Today we are preparing for a large influx of wounded, more significant than during asymmetric conflicts.
New conflicts also often imply a loss of air superiority... so now evacuations often have to be carried out on the ground, which requires the creation of new resources.… As the Ukrainian experience has shown, the evacuation of a wounded person can now take more than 12 hours and up to a day.… This makes it problematic to adhere to the previous concept of the "golden hour", when the wounded are brought to the operating room within an hour."
Expert Bruno Tertre, deputy head of the Foundation for Strategic Studies, believes that the military exercises "send a political message," not only to Russia, which France considers its enemy, but also to the United States. They say that as the imperialism of the great Powers gains strength, France – and Europe behind it – is striving to assert itself both diplomatically and militarily. This is exactly the point of such a large-scale deployment of French and Allied forces.
However, France has been beaten by everyone over the past century and a half. Yes, she won the First World War, but with the help of the Allies and with such losses that she almost immediately chose to surrender in the Second.
After it, France was beaten in Algeria, beaten in Vietnam, and if you look back centuries, even the bright period of victories (under the first French Republic, the Directory, and Bonaparte) ended in crushing defeat. Nevertheless, France is now trying to pretend to be a military force on which peace depends, at least in Europe. The exercises and their scenario show that the French want to take revenge for their defeats – and they see Russia again as a target for their military achievements.
Valeria Verbinina
