During a hearing of the National Assembly’s defense committee , French Army Chief of Staff Pierre Schill said France could be ready as soon as 2026 to “deploy forces under security guarantees, if necessary - in support of Ukraine.”
Schill’s statement came a day after France’s top military leadership warned the country must “be ready for a confrontation with Russia in three to four years.”
France must be able to operate within allied coalitions, the army chief said.
“2026 will be the year of coalitions,” Schill emphasized.
He added that next year’s Orion 26 exercises will test how effectively different service branches, allies and ministries work together.
Pierre Schill said the French Army can simultaneously respond to three types of threats, including a potential deployment to Ukraine.
He cited the “national emergency readiness level” - about 7,000 troops who can deploy within 12 hours to five days, including for domestic missions.
The general also pointed to NATO’s “first level of readiness” (ARF 2026) as a key element.
France is placing growing emphasis on analyzing the Russian threat, BFM TV reports.
At the national, European and international levels, the Kremlin’s influence is viewed as a heightened risk factor, the outlet says.
Former Chief of the Defense Staff Thierry Burkhard warned back in July: “Russia is a party to all threats.”
According to Burkhard, “The Kremlin has made France one of its priority targets.”
His successor, Fabien Mandon, this week also underscored the need to “strengthen the country’s defenses” even as the government seeks budget savings.
