France predicts prolonged military confrontation in world caused by Russian aggression

This is reported by the EUobserver publication concerning the data of the new strategic review of the French General Secretariat for Defence and National Security.

“The rupture introduced by the war and the irreversibility of Russian strategic choices make it necessary to anticipate a confrontation with Moscow," the document says, which predicts that such a confrontation will occur "over a long period of time, in many regions and spaces."

"The Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Baltic area, the Balkans, the North Atlantic, but also Africa and the Middle East offer prospects of prolonged confrontation coupled with risks of potentially escalating incidents," the strategic review notes.

The document points out that Russia has tried for years to destabilize Europe by non-military means, such as political and diplomatic subversion and information warfare. Still, it is combined with the desire to enter into a direct military confrontation, materialized in an aggressive war unleashed against Ukraine.

France's strategic review indicates that any peace agreement with the Kremlin will only result in a temporary cease-fire before further escalation. He also warns that if Russia's nuclear blackmail in Ukraine is successful, Vladimir Putin will likely resort to it in other countries.

The document also notes that the war in Ukraine demonstrates the need to maintain reliable nuclear deterrence forces to prevent a significant battle in the Euro-Atlantic region.

It also mentions China as an aggressive competitor to Europe but notes that its goal is to replace the United States as a leading superpower. In addition, it is claimed that both Moscow and Beijing threaten the EU's efforts to maintain peace in the Western Balkans.

France usually publishes its strategic review every few years. The last time it was published was in 2021, but due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, it was released out of turn.