The head of the French armed forces has stirred controversy with remarks urging the nation to be ready to “lose its children” on the battlefield if it hopes to stand up to Russia. General Fabien Mandon, 56, the chief of defence staff, made the statements during a speech to French mayors, claiming that the country lacks the “strength of soul” needed to face Moscow in a potential conflict. He implored the mayors to return to their towns and villages and convey that France must prepare for war and accept the human and economic costs that come with defending the nation.
Mandon’s comments provoked sharp reactions in a country still marked by the enormous human toll of the First and Second World Wars, where about 1.3 million soldiers died in World War I and another 212,000 fell during the Nazi invasion in World War II. Left-wing politicians accused the general of overstepping his authority and engaging in warmongering, while the populist right National Rally said he lacked legitimacy to make such statements and was guilty of “misconduct.”
The general’s speech comes amid warnings from military specialists and government officials that France could be drawn into a war with Russia on European soil within the next three to four years. A former fighter pilot who assumed the top military post in September, Mandon previously told MPs that the Kremlin would not stop at Ukraine and would likely “test” other European nations in potentially violent ways. Speaking at the congress of the Association of Mayors of France, he described Europe as fundamentally strong but lacking the societal willingness to endure pain and sacrifice in defense of the nation. “If our country is weak because it is not ready to accept losing its children…then we are at risk,” Mandon said.
Reactions among mayors and commentators were mixed. Joël Balandraud, mayor of Évron, welcomed support for the military but said he was uncomfortable telling citizens to “prepare to lose its children.” Françoise Degois, a commentator on Sud Radio, criticized Mandon for invoking memories of Verdun and the Somme, warning that his comments could fuel conspiracy theories about President Emmanuel Macron seeking war to extend his term. Political leaders across the spectrum also weighed in: Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed condemned the general for promoting sacrifices that were the result of diplomatic failings, while National Rally deputy chairman Sébastien Chenu questioned whether Mandon acted without presidential authorization, calling it either illegitimate or “even more enormous” if directed by Macron.
Mandon received support from Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, head of the French navy, who defended the chief of defence staff’s duty to anticipate potential scenarios and prepare accordingly. France is set to increase its defence budget from €43.9 billion in 2023 to €68 billion by 2030, and expand its armed forces from 204,000 active personnel to more than 275,000 in five years, despite current recruitment challenges that have left 27,000 posts vacant. The controversy highlights the tension between preparing for potential conflicts and managing public sensitivity to the human costs of war.
