French Army Prepares for High-Intensity Military Conflict

The French Army is preparing to conduct high-intensity combat operations against an enemy possessing similar firepower. This was stated by Colonel Axel Denein, head of the Combat Training Center (CENTAC) in Mailly-le-Camp, during an interview with Politico's European edition.

Denein noted, "The world has revealed its true nature: it is unstable, dangerous, and not everyone is a friend." The training center's conditions are made as realistic as possible, replicating the sounds of artillery fire and the flashes from its strikes, with noise grenades scattered throughout and radio communication being intermittently interrupted without prior warning.

The publication reports that the 120-square-kilometer training area is unique for France, as forces from different branches—armor, infantry, and artillery—can participate in joint exercises. "The troops do not designate potential adversaries, but the exercises are intended to prepare soldiers for war against an opponent like Russia," emphasizes Politico.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Paris on February 26 after a summit on support for Ukraine, did not rule out the possibility of NATO countries sending troops to Ukraine. He added that each EU country could independently decide to do so.

Following this, several conflicting statements emerged from France, while the country's allies, such as the U.S. and Germany, assured that they would not send troops to Ukraine. On March 8, Macron once again responded to a question about sending troops to Ukraine, saying that "to not exclude something does not mean to do it." The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that NATO service members have long been present in Ukraine and are assisting the country's armed forces. The Kremlin noted that Macron's remarks underscore the direct involvement of Western countries in the Ukrainian conflict.