French military chief says possible war with Russia his 'primary concern'

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France's top general on Thursday said the possibility of a war with Russia in the next few years remained his "primary concern" as he defended efforts to ramp up defence spending.

The chief of the defence staff General Fabien Mandon spoke in parliament as he presented France's draft legislation to boost defence spending between 2024 and 2030.

"The persistence of a Russian threat on our continent, with the possibility of an open war, remains my primary concern in terms of military preparedness," Mandon told the defence committee of parliament's lower house during a hearing devoted to the updated military programming draft law.

According to the draft legislation unveiled by the government on Wednesday, 36 billion euros ($42 billion) were to be added to France's defence spending, on top of the 413 billion euros ($483 billion) allocated for the period of 2024 to 2030.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the French top general's concerns were "absolutely unfounded".

"Russia poses no threat to any country that does not plan to become a hub for anti-Russian activities, that does not plan to destroy the Russian‑speaking population, and that does not plan in any way to undermine the security of Russia," he said.

Peskov expressed regret that European countries were "completely refusing any form of contact".

Russia and Ukraine have been at war since Moscow in 2022 launched the full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

European powers, including France, have backed Ukraine with increasing supplies of weapons but have always insisted they are not directly involved in the conflict.

'Dangerous period'

Citing intelligence estimates, Mandon said Russia was expected to have a bigger army and more weapons by 2030.

Russia is projected to have a 1.9 million-strong army by 2030, up from 1.3 million last year, he said.

The number of Russian heavy tanks was set to rise from 4,000 in 2025 to 7,000 in 2030, while the number of combat vessels in the Russian navy was expected to be between 230 and 240, Mandon added.

"This military planning law is crucial for the defence of our fellow citizens," Mandon said.

"We are in a dangerous period. We must not cause alarm, but simply raise awareness because we need this defence investment," he added.

In November, Mandon warned France must be ready to "lose its children" against the background of the threat posed by Russia, sparking an outcry.

"An unrestricted use of force" and a "terrorist threat" in the Middle East, Asia and Africa also justified the ramping up of defences, Mandon said, pointing to Washington's wavering commitment to Europe.

"We can no longer have the same level of confidence in the Americans' commitment to our security", he said, adding however that dialogue with US military officials remained of "high quality."