French general warns: military too small and production too slow

France's top military commander General Fabien Mandon has warned that the country's armed forces are insufficiently large and defence industry production capacity is too slow. Mandon also acknowledged that France risks falling behind Germany in defence spending, as Berlin has significantly increased its defence budgets.

France's top military commander General Fabien Mandon issued a concerning assessment of the country's defence capabilities, warning that the French armed forces are too small and the production of equipment needed by the armed forces is proceeding too slowly.

Mandon publicly acknowledged that France risks falling behind Germany, as Berlin has recently substantially increased its defence investments. Germany has taken significant steps in recent years to strengthen its military capabilities, including allocating billions of euros to its defence budget.

General Mandon's statements reflect broader concerns among European nations about defence readiness, particularly against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict, which has forced many NATO members to critically assess their military capabilities. France has been among Europe's largest defence spenders, but now faces pressure to increase its contribution.

The question of production capacity has become an increasingly acute problem across Europe — the defence industry cannot respond fast enough to meet growing demand, which is especially important at a time when European nations seek both to replenish their own stocks and support Ukraine.