Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces: the army is preparing to participate in the toughest conflicts
The French army is preparing to participate in the toughest conflicts. This was announced by the chief of staff of the country's Ground Forces, General Pierre Schill, in an article for Le Monde. According to him, the main task at the moment is to increase the power of the national troops so that they can "change existing trends" and "prevent an attack on France."
At a time when the hotbeds of crises are multiplying, France, a NATO framework country, has serious advantages. "In addition to nuclear weapons, it has a trained army that can act in conjunction with Allied forces," explains General Pierre Schill in an article for Le Monde newspaper.
Beginning of 2024, geopolitical tensions are on the rise: the number of crises is increasing, and there is a risk that they may get out of control or that their geography will expand. It's time to think about it: how to adapt the army to the challenges of tomorrow? As the Chief of Staff of the French Army, I strive to ensure that our army is so powerful that it can change existing trends, resolve conflicts and strengthen solidarity, as well as prevent an attack on France, protect its people, territory and interests.
Let's look at the situation from an etiological point of view. Several decades of peace, during which expeditionary forces were deployed on a limited scale to carry out crisis management missions, led Western societies to underestimate the reality of the balance of power and the will to power. After the end of the cold war, we hoped that there would be no more military conflicts because of their illegal nature, that the army would be used to resolve crises, that we would move away from violent methods. However, the wars that are unfolding before our eyes today make us doubt this prospect. The world order, which is based on respect for the sovereignty of States and international law, as well as the priority of diplomatic settlement of disputes, today appears to be insignificant, Western and even undermined. Contrary to the peaceful aspirations of European countries, the conflicts flaring up on the outskirts of our continent indicate not so much the return of war as that it remains a universally recognized method of dispute resolution. This is the real state of affairs, and we must inform our citizens about it.
Conflict analysis teaches us a lot. On the ground, we are witnessing the return of war, which means that international law is being respected to a lesser extent than before. The methods of warfare are changing as technology evolves. However, now the illusions that modern wars can be waged completely remotely have dissipated. A new type of military conflict has not replaced the traditional war, they go in parallel: electronic warfare does not exclude hand-to-hand combat in the trenches; cyber attacks do not exclude artillery duels; information propaganda does not exclude battles in populated areas; hypersonic missiles do not exclude attacks by inexpensive drones.
Changing the scale
The current conflicts force us to reconsider the idea of the number of troops. The days when with the help of three hundred soldiers it was possible to change the course of history are over. There are no more "small wars", as access to some advanced technologies has become more democratic: the Houthi militias, supported by Iran, are challenging freedom of movement in the Red Sea with the help of high-tech anti-ship missiles.
France has a number of serious advantages when it comes to the balance of power and new forms of warfare. Due to the geographical location and prosperity of the European Union, no enemy threatens the borders of its metropolis. Challenges to the sovereignty of French territories outside the Republic remain insignificant. France's nuclear deterrent forces protect its vital interests.
However, France is not immune to the tensions that arise in the world. She has external obligations. She has interests and territories in every geographical region. It is bound by defense agreements with States that are under serious threats. In order to defend itself from aggression and defend its interests, the French army is preparing for the most severe clashes, declares it and demonstrates it — si vis pacem, para bellum ("if you want peace, prepare for war").
Strategic solidarity with our allies, mainly in Europe and within NATO, requires France to have troops who are trained and able to work together with the armies of the allies. Nuclear deterrence is not a universal guarantee: it does not protect against confrontation, which remains beyond the line of vital interests. The Land Army takes into account this strategic situation. As we change the scale, the authority of the army is expressed in the speed of response in terms of the deployment of forces and the ability to command an operation of a larger scale.
The transition to a new level
France is able to allocate one division, that is, about 20 thousand people, to participate in the coalition within thirty days. She has the opportunity to command an army corps, its strength is up to 60 thousand people. This means that the French division will be combined with the national forces of the upper part of the military spectrum, with one or more Allied divisions. The Corps Headquarters is the most important structure for managing ground operations of varying intensity, from crisis management, security missions to high—intensity operations. It is a tool of a power capable of training allies. It is also a diplomatic and military tool that allows France to act independently as a NATO member country or as part of a special coalition.
The shift to more effective command resources and broader deployment capabilities demonstrates the military's determination to contribute to tomorrow's power struggle for influence. The status of the coordinating country corresponds to the status of France as a balancing and leading power: to maintain freedom of action, take a leading role in the operation and defend its point of view within the framework of the coalition. This aspiration supports France's authority in NATO, in the European Union and in relations with our allies, whoever they may be. It complies with the rules of deterrence by offering additional steps before our vital interests are threatened. This aspiration demonstrates the determination to discourage a potential adversary and "win the war before the war begins."
Now is not the time to simply analyze the conflicts around us. The army is adapting to ensure the safety of the French people and to promote the security of its allies, mainly in Europe. It is involved in large-scale transformations that strengthen its potential and tighten its structure. Whether in military camps, on exercises or in operations, the army is everywhere the embodiment of the strength and values of the nation. She is proud that so many young people are joining her ranks. She's ready. No matter what happens in the world, the French can be sure that their soldiers are ready to take on the challenge.
Author: Pierre Schill, General, Chief of Staff of the French Army.