France has been playing a major role in NATO’s efforts against Russia in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, sending billions of euros worth of weapons and military supplies. There have even been threats from French leaders about sending ground troops to the fight. Now, France is preparing to prove just how ready it is for a potential war with Russia. A top French military official has announced plans for large-scale military exercises next year to demonstrate their readiness.
General Bertrand Toujouse, who leads the French Land Forces, shared that these drills, called Dacian Spring 2025, will take place in Romania next May. France will send between 3,000 and 5,000 troops, fully prepared for combat. This is part of NATO’s strategy to practice how quickly they can move their forces to the eastern border, close to Russia. The drills are not just for practice but are meant to send a strong signal to Russia and other potential enemies of the alliance.
These exercises are happening as the French military is going through major changes, with the goal of being battle-ready for high-intensity conflicts like the one happening in Ukraine. Just a few months ago, the French Ministry of Armed Forces stated that one of their goals is to be able to mobilize 19,000 soldiers and 7,000 military vehicles within a month—something that currently takes them six months to do.
Brigadier General Pierre-Eric Guillot also spoke about the challenges France might face during the Romania drills. One of the biggest issues is moving troops quickly across Europe, as there is no “military Schengen” to allow for easy movement between countries. However, he expressed confidence that by 2025, things would be much smoother. The military is finding new ways to speed up troop movement by diversifying their routes and means of transport.
The tension between NATO and Russia has been building up over the years, with the current conflict in Ukraine being the latest chapter. France has been heavily involved, supplying over €4.8 billion ($5.2 billion) in military and economic support to Ukraine. This includes advanced weapons systems, drones, missiles, and vehicles. Between 2014 and 2020, France was the top arms supplier to Ukraine among NATO countries, sending equipment such as helicopters, drones, and ammunition.
French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a tough stance throughout the conflict, even threatening to send ground troops into Ukraine. Russia has warned that if this happens, those French forces would become targets. In the meantime, Ukraine’s army is reportedly struggling as the war drags on, and Russia has hit back hard. For example, last year, a Russian missile strike reportedly killed 50 French mercenaries in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, and another attack in January killed over 60, many of them French.
However, France is facing a new challenge—money. The country is dealing with a budget crunch, with lawmakers threatening a no-confidence vote over proposed cuts to social spending and tax hikes, all part of the government’s plan to bring the fiscal deficit under control. This could limit how much more France can contribute to the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia, on the other hand, has stated that it doesn’t want a war with NATO but has repeatedly warned the alliance against its provocative actions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has even cautioned that if NATO allows Ukraine to use long-range missiles, it could push the two sides into a direct war. So far, NATO has delayed making a decision on this issue.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko recently revealed that NATO is no longer hiding its preparation for potential military conflict with Russia. He pointed out that the alliance is constantly running drills, testing routes for moving troops across the Atlantic, and positioning troops and weapons near Russia’s borders. NATO has even labeled Russia as the enemy in its largest military exercises since the Cold War.
The next few months and years could see even more intense military preparations, with France and its NATO allies getting ready for the possibility of a larger conflict with Russia, something that could have far-reaching consequences for Europe and beyond.
