France's top general says Russia sees Paris as its main enemy in Europe

French army chief General Thierry Burkhard warned that Moscow views France as its principal adversary in Europe, citing growing hybrid threats from Russia ahead of President Macron’s key defence speech.

In a rare press conference on July 11, General Thierry Burkhard, the head of the French army, said that Russia now considers France its “main enemy in Europe.” The statement reflects what the Élysée Palace has described as a worsening international threat environment.

Burkhard attributed Russia’s stance to France’s steadfast military and political support for Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. “It was Putin who said this,” the general noted, referring to the Russian president’s remarks.

While France is not under direct military threat, Burkhard cautioned that Russia is actively pursuing hybrid warfare tactics. These include cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns targeting French society, espionage, and the sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure.

He also pointed to increased Russian activity in space, sea, and air. Russian satellites, according to Burkhard, have been manoeuvring dangerously close to French assets in orbit to jam or spy on them. At sea, Russian nuclear submarines have been spotted monitoring key areas in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the skies, French forces regularly encounter Russian aircraft over the Black Sea, Syria, and the Mediterranean.

This strategic assessment comes just ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s traditional July 13 address to the French armed forces, delivered on the eve of Bastille Day. The Élysée said the speech would highlight “defence priorities” in response to the evolving threat landscape.

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