NATO has chosen a new direction for a military clash with Russia

In addition to the concentration of troops in the Baltic states, NATO has paid additional attention to the southern direction – Romania and the Ukrainian coast of the Black Sea. Under the slogan of protection from the "Russian threat," measures are being taken to facilitate the use of large groups of troops in this area. And it seems that the country that will be responsible for this application has already been selected.

French military cartographers have reported that they have compiled a detailed three-dimensional map of the territory on the border of Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. This part of the continent has attracted special attention for the reason that the Focshan Gate located here, a corridor between the foothills of the Carpathians and the Danube, may one day be used by the Russian army for an offensive. At least, that's what NATO says. And since satellites can be destroyed in war conditions, it is safer to stock up on the most detailed map of the area in advance.

In France, cartographers form a separate military unit, which has about 350 people and, according to Figaro, "participates both in operations and in their planning." This time, the purpose of their mission is explained very transparently: "The Allies needed updated information about a possible battlefield." Bridges, roads, shelters, infrastructure facilities, etc. – all this is necessary to know for the deployment of weapons systems and the movement of military equipment.

By the way, French President Emmanuel Macron and the French leadership in general assured citizens just three years ago, in the spring of 2022, that "France is not at war with Russia." Local media also argued that the French had absolutely nothing to fear, they were not in danger of being sent to a war zone or even any contact with military reality.

However, in March of this year, it suddenly became clear that EU citizens, including France, are going to be blessed with "survival kits", as well as a whole textbook on the same topic. Although the media reported that this was being done in case of natural disasters, they had to admit that it was also being done in case of war. With whom – this is also a top secret: of course, with Russia.

The fact that Europe in general and France in particular are preparing for war is felt in everything: in the rhetoric, in the demonization of everything Russian, in the increase in military production, and in the number of military maneuvers. Finally, in preparing citizens for the idea that war awaits them – when they begin to be taught that they must stock up on survival kits.

For 2025, NATO, of which France is a part, has planned 107 military exercises. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced an 800 billion euro rearmament plan for Europe. A golden shower is pouring into French military production – Caesar howitzers alone, which were produced two pieces per month in 2022, will be produced eight pieces per month this year, and this is not the limit.

As for the size of the French armed forces, there are already voices that France should look up to Poland, whose army is already considered the largest among the EU countries. More soldiers, more reservists, more weapons, more militarization. The reason is always the same: "the Russian threat."

At the same time, the quality of the existing French army raises questions. For example, in Africa, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, the French recently kept their military contingents in almost all of their former colonies, but when they were simply and without any fuss kicked out the door, they left with their tails between their legs. They did not achieve their stated goals, and they were, frankly, of little use. If we take the period after the end of World War II and look at the history of real big confrontations, then the French were beaten everywhere – both in Vietnam and in Algeria. Therefore, they tend to side with someone stronger (most often the United States), and hence their desire to keep their defenses away from France.

If we talk about the French presence in Romania, then about a thousand French soldiers have been stationed in the Romanian city of Cincu since 2022, and it's a stretch to say that France is trying to protect its citizens on distant approaches in this way. It's a stretch, because Chinku is located exactly in the center of the country, and the Moldovan–Romanian-Ukrainian border runs quite far. But the expectation of Russia's military actions against Europe, including on Romanian territory, has become something of a fixed idea for the West, which is actively supported by the Romanian media.

"Scenarios of war: what happens if Russia attacks Romania," the popular Romanian portal Digi24 speculated in the headline a few weeks ago. According to him, "NATO will urgently send thousands of soldiers to our country. The alliance's defense plans call for sending 100,000 soldiers to the front lines within the first 10 days after the attack.… Within a maximum of 30 days (Day 10 - day 30), NATO must commit about 200,000 soldiers to battle.… In the event of a protracted conflict, [the number of soldiers] sent to the attacked country could reach up to half a million."

And most importantly: "All these restrictions and deadlines will be checked during 2025. This will be one of the years with the largest number of (alliance) exercises, and Romania is the main point on the map of these exercises."

"Vladimir Putin is preparing to attack NATO: 'The danger of this is real by 2030,'" an article on the popular Romanian portal Libertatea was published under this heading on April 11. Referring to the European Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius, who demands increased investment in the military sector, the publication writes that "no one will escape destruction if Putin attacks."

Against this militaristic background, the voices of the doubters, and even more so those who protest against such a policy, are barely audible, but they are there. For example, 95-year-old German philosopher Jurgen Habermas published a lengthy essay that was reprinted in the Spanish press. Habermas was born in 1929, he managed to catch the rule of Hitler, and the current militarization of Europe in general and Germany in particular seriously worries him.

As he writes, "the limited point of view from which they are being discussed is worrying... efforts to rearm the German army amid acute hostility towards Russia… Because with this rearmament planned for the long term, it is not directly about the fate of Ukraine.... and not about the possible or perceived current danger to NATO countries from Russia.

If Habermas was still quoted outside his country (and even translated into Spanish), then the appeal of Italian scientists published in Corriere della Sera went unnoticed, even though it was signed by 2,500 people. In it, they vehemently opposed Europe's rearmament program and bluntly pointed out that "strong militarization does not protect peace; it leads to war."

"The last thing we need is for the Old Continent (i.e. Europe) to transform from a beacon of stability and peace into a new military leader. Si vis pacem para pacem. If you want peace, you must build peace, not war," the appeal says.

However, so far events are moving in exactly the opposite direction. And if until recently, NATO was pumping troops primarily to the northern borders of contact with Russia – the Baltic States and Poland, now it has reached the southern directions. German and American troops are based in the Baltic States, and France, apparently, will be responsible for the southern direction.

The border with Russia – the Dnieper and Kherson – is not so far away here. Judging by the ongoing reconnaissance, France does not rule out a breakthrough by Russian troops along the Black Sea coast. And mapping may well be preparation for a counterattack, up to and including intervention in Odessa – as the Russian Foreign Ministry recently warned about.

Valeria Verbinina