Relations with the United States: We can no longer have the same level of trust, says the chief of staff.

French top general acknowledges European allies’ distancing from traditional US ally

“The observation made by many of my European partners is that we can no longer have the same level of confidence in the commitment of Americans to our security.” During a hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday, April 9, General Fabien Mandon discussed the increasing distance between the United States and its old European allies.

France and its “culture of sovereignty”

“They have had a historical role since the end of World War II. Many countries that do not have France’s culture of sovereignty had become accustomed to relying on American aid, either through equipment acquisitions or the contribution of critical capabilities to the continent by Americans. Today, we can no longer have this same level of confidence,” stated the French Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

While praising the “quality of exchanges” with top officials of the American military, including the current US Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Dan Caine, appointed by Donald Trump in early 2025, General Mandon acknowledges strategic divergences, indirectly referring to the Trump administration’s stance towards Europe and their hostility towards NATO. In the face of “simultaneity of crises” including wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and tensions in the Indo-Pacific, American priorities differ from those of France or the European continent.

“They have been warning us for months to strengthen ourselves, as they may not be able to cover your needs when you need them”

, he added.

New alliances

Amid this new scenario, General Mandon praises the position of the French military in the continental landscape.

“Europeans, at a military level, are increasingly meeting and taking action. France has recognized leadership, through its culture, seriousness, credibility in engaging its forces,”

, he assured. The senior officer mentioned Paris’s role in the “coalition of volunteers” for Ukraine conducted jointly with the UK, as well as recent efforts with 35 countries to plan the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

The possibility of an “open war” with Russia remains “my primary concern,” emphasized the French Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, who had previously warned of a “shock in three, four years.” “The enduring Russian threat to our continent, with an open war (…) remains my primary concern in terms of army preparedness,” stated the general during a hearing on updating military planning to strengthen the defense budget by 2030.

“Each country retains the freedom to evolve, but in any case, the projections we have today (…) indicate that Russia, in 2025, has 1.3 million soldiers, with a projection of 1.9 (million) by 2030,” he reminded. The bill to update the Military Planning Law presented on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers provides an additional 36 billion euros for the Armed Forces in addition to the 413 billion already allocated for the 2024-2030 period. The “resort to force,” the “remaining strong terrorist threat in the Middle East, Asia, and also the African continent,” also justify, according to him, the effort required of the French for their defense.