The French government recommended that its citizens prepare for a possible war with Russia, by developing an emergency plan, containing: 6 liters of water per person, canned food, basic medicines, a battery-operated radio, and a flashlight, in addition to games and books for entertainment.
A contingency plan to prepare for war with Russia
The French government called on its citizens to prepare for the possibility of war with Russia within a national emergency plan that includes equipping every home with enough equipment for three days to confront the crisis. The draft, which was issued under the title Everyone is Responsible, recommended that:
– 6 liters of water per person
-Canned food
– Essential medicines
– Battery operated radio
– Manual flashlight
– Games and books for entertainment
Preparing to lose children
The French Minister of Defense stressed the need to strengthen the national defense spirit as it is the collective moral force without which no country can withstand. This came after the statements of the French Army Chief of Staff, General Fabien Mandon, who called on the French to be prepared to bear the loss of their children in the event of a conflict breaking out in Europe.
Chief of Staff of the French Army
Strengthening national preparedness to confront war
This comes within the efforts of the French government led by President Emmanuel Macron, which is also preparing to launch a voluntary military service aimed at strengthening national preparedness to confront war, natural disasters, epidemics, and any other crises.
In his speeches, General Mandon stressed the need for a strong national spirit, warning that France would be in danger if it was not prepared to accept the economic or personal losses resulting from enhancing defense production to confront any anticipated Russian threat by 2030, as he called on the French to be prepared to bear the loss of their children if a conflict broke out in Europe.
French Minister of Defence
Mandon’s statements caused a wave of widespread criticism from the opposition, from the radical left to the extreme right, accusing the government of preparing for a possible war against Russia. French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrian confirmed that the general’s words were taken out of context for political purposes, and that the goal was to raise the level of national awareness and not to send children to the battle fronts.
The French National Strategic Report 2025 also makes clear that France needs to prepare for the possibility of a large, high-intensity military intervention in Europe between 2027 and 2030, and that any Russian attack on a NATO member state would entail the participation of French forces in accordance with the collective defense obligation in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.
