Paris - Saba:
The Director General of the French Gendarmerie, General Hubert Bonnot, issued a warning today, Tuesday, of the possibility of an "armed conflict and the exposure of French territory to aggression", stressing that France is going through a sensitive "turning point".
The newspaper "Le Monde" leaked a letter from Bonnot addressed to senior regional leaders in France, departments, and central directors, consisting of three pages and dated January 19, 2025, in which General Bonnot indicated that "the current strategic environment has become more stringent", stressing that France is going through a sensitive "turning point".
He explained that "actors and competitors are seeking to destabilize the country, which requires strengthening coordination with the armed forces and developing operational regional defense".
General Bonnot called on "gendarmerie personnel to be fully prepared to maintain their role in defending the homeland", and stressed the need to "preserve national cohesion, which is the most important element in facing current challenges".
He called for the adoption of a "military spirit"... referring to the "hypothesis of involvement in a major conflict".
He said: "The political developments in the United States, with their repercussions and undoubtedly the possible consequences for NATO, will push Europe to commit more to defending itself, while the Ukrainian crisis enters its third year".
He added: "The 135,000 active and reserve gendarmerie forces have to prepare themselves to take their place in preparation for any hypothesis, in particular by strengthening the acquisition and maintenance of military equipment".
He also stressed "the importance of strengthening the relationship between the gendarmerie and the army"... referring to "the need for the gendarmerie to be prepared to play a pivotal role in the operational defense of the territory".
Some French parliamentarians explained in their reports that the security situation has deteriorated in several regions.
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