He stated that if France “is not prepared to accept losing its children, to suffer economically because priorities will be given to defense production, then we are at risk.”
Parties on both extremes of the political spectrum — representing a significant share of voters — objected, highlighting France’s lack of consensus on preparing for war and differing views on the threat Russia poses to the French homeland. Many NATO countries foresee Moscow potentially targeting the alliance by 2030.
Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a three-time presidential candidate, expressed his “total disagreement” with Mandon in a post on X, stating it is not Mandon’s role to “anticipate sacrifices due to our diplomatic failures.”
Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel also accused Mandon of “warmongering.”
Mélenchon’s France Unbowed and the Communists were the only parliamentary groups to vote against a symbolic resolution last year authorizing military aid to Ukraine.
Sébastien Chenu, from Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, said in an interview with LCI that Mandon had “no legitimacy” to make such comments and expressed concern about reflecting President Emmanuel Macron’s views.
Mandon, appointed earlier this year to replace Gen. Thierry Burkhard as France’s top general, previously warned in a parliament hearing last month that the French armed forces should be ready “in three or four years” for a “shock” concerning Russia.
France Unbowed and the National Rally, who, according to recent polling, could face off in the next presidential runoff, both want France to exit NATO’s integrated command. While France Unbowed seeks to leave the alliance altogether soon, the National Rally prefers to wait until the end of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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