French President Emmanuel Macron Highlights Russian Hybrid Threats
Milan — In recent statements, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that France and other European nations have been increasingly targeted by Russian hybrid threats. Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Élysée Palace, attended by presidential candidates and high-ranking officials from military, intelligence, and energy sectors, Macron expressed concern over the escalating nature of these threats as France approaches its presidential elections on September 28.
An AFP report noted that the meeting focused on the deterioration of global relations, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and their implications for French security and energy prices. Just days prior, France’s strategic planning body urged a bolstering of military capabilities and societal resilience in preparation for hybrid warfare and prolonged conflicts.
The Haut-Commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan (HCSP) recently published a significant 40-page document outlining France’s 2035 national security objectives. This report anticipates increased confrontations in critical digital infrastructure, the seabed, and outer space, which are projected to become key battlegrounds for state and private actors alike.
The HCSP observed a dramatic rise in Russia-attributed hybrid warfare operations in Europe, escalating from under 10 in 2022 to nearly 50 instances in 2024. The report indicates that such actions, spanning cyber, economic, and informational domains, are likely to intensify.
Hybrid warfare, characterized by tactics that evade conventional military conflict thresholds, complicates the attribution of responsibility for these attacks.
To prepare for the evolving security landscape, the report offers several key recommendations for France and Europe. It urges a rapid transformation of military models to address major war threats in Europe, aiming for a shift from smaller, counter-terrorism forces to a readiness for large-scale combat. French officials advocate for aligning national military budgets with a clear European security strategy.
Additionally, the report recommends reducing technological dependency on non-European countries like the U.S. and China, promoting the development of European-made systems. France is making strides in this direction, particularly in digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Lastly, the HCSP emphasizes the importance of national unity in countering hybrid warfare threats, particularly informational attacks intended to destabilize societies, although it did not specify methods for achieving this.
These insights reflect a concerted effort by France to proactively address the complexities of contemporary security challenges, balancing immediate needs with long-term strategic planning.
