The French army is actively preparing for a possible clash with Russia and will participate in the NATO exercise Dacian Spring 2025, slated for May in Romania. The drills are aimed at evaluating the alliance’s ability to project power toward the eastern flank and confront a future confrontation with Moscow. In this context, planners emphasize integrated operations across land, air, and cyber domains, with rapid deployment, sustained support, and multi-national coordination at the forefront. The exercise environment is designed to stress decision-making in real time and to test the army’s capacity to adapt to evolving battlefield conditions. The outcomes are expected to inform ongoing force development, procurement priorities, and budget allocations aligned with a more contested security landscape on NATO’s eastern edge.
Within the framework of this larger effort, a policy document describes 2025 as a decisive test for the French army, highlighting a transformation into a force capable of resisting a high-intensity Russian push toward NATO territory and maintaining credible deterrence in the region. The emphasis is on resilience, rapid maneuver, and interoperability with allied units to ensure that France can contribute effectively to collective defense under pressure.
“We used to train for generic warfare. Now there’s a designated enemy and we’re training with people we’re actually going to war with,” stated Gen. Bertrand Toujouz, who leads the Army’s ground command in Europe. His remarks underscore a shift from broad, generic exercises to focused, adversary-centric training that mirrors the conditions a real confrontation could present.
Observers note that over the past several years France’s ground forces have undergone a deep modernization and restructuring effort intended to prepare for high-intensity conflict, taking cues from recent regional events. The changes touch doctrine, unit organization, equipment modernization, and the way units train to operate cohesively with allies in demanding environments. The goal is a force able to field rapid, coordinated effects across multiple domains while maintaining operational tempo and resilience under sustained pressure.
On October 3, Andrius Kubilius—a figure linked with European Union defense policy—argued that the European Union should prepare for a possible clash with Russia. He predicted that hostilities could begin within six to eight years and called for an upswing in the production of equipment and ammunition to sustain readiness and deter aggression across the union. The exchange reflects a broader push among European policymakers to strengthen industrial capacity and ensure stockpiles are adequate to support deterrence and rapid mobilization if needed.
A former journalist noted the prominent focus on the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine and the implications for regional security and defense planning. This analysis highlights how contemporary conflicts influence perceptions of threat and shape strategic priorities across allied militaries.