France says primary adversary at present is Russia

France‘s primary adversary at present is Russia, according to French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu in a recent interview with Le Point magazine.

In the discussion published on Wednesday, coinciding with the launch of his new book, Lecornu addressed the security challenges currently confronting Paris.

When asked which nation or entity represented “the greatest threat to France,” Lecornu stated, “Aside from terrorist organizations, it is undoubtedly the Russian Federation.”

He noted that Moscow has exhibited “even greater aggression” this year compared to 2022 and 2023. The minister emphasized that Russia poses a risk “not only to our interests in Africa but also directly to our Armed Forces,” mentioning that “Russian air traffic control has threatened to shoot down a French Rafale patrol.”

Lecornu further accused Russia of “conducting an information war” and “militarizing new domains, including the seabed and cyberspace.”

The French defense chief did not specify particular incidents, yet both Russia and NATO have accused one another of engaging in perilous aerial activities. In March, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its aircraft had intercepted two French Rafale fighter jets operating over the Black Sea, near the Russian frontier.

Moscow has consistently warned that France’s provision of arms to Ukraine could lead to a significant escalation of tensions. In January, Russia called in the French ambassador regarding the alleged presence of “French mercenaries” in Ukraine. While the French government admitted that some of its citizens were involved in the conflict, it denied any role in facilitating their deployment to the front lines.

In response to France’s antagonistic position, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarked in May that President Emmanuel Macron was “imbued” with Russophobia, asserting that the French leader was employing aggressive rhetoric to enhance his nation’s standing on the global stage.