MILAN — French President Emmanuel Macron announced a comprehensive national security plan for 2035, emphasizing military transformation and technological independence in response to escalating hybrid threats, particularly from Russia. This announcement follows a meeting at the Élysée attended by presidential candidates and senior military, intelligence, and energy officials.
According to Macron, the threat landscape for France and Europe has intensified, particularly due to Russian hybrid warfare tactics. The Haut-Commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan (HCSP) released a 40-page document outlining France’s national security objectives, which anticipates increased confrontations in critical areas such as the seabed and outer space by 2035.
Key Recommendations for Military Transformation
The HCSP report highlights the need for Europe to enhance its military capabilities and societal resilience in preparation for hybrid warfare and prolonged conflicts. It notes a significant increase in Russia-attributed hybrid warfare operations in Europe, which rose from fewer than 10 instances to nearly 50 between 2022 and 2024. This trend underscores the urgency for France to adapt its military strategy.
One of the primary recommendations is to fast-track the transformation of France’s military model to prepare for potential major conflicts in Europe. French military officials advocate for a shift from smaller counter-terrorism forces to a focus on large-scale, high-intensity combat readiness. The report emphasizes that the national budget must align with a clear European objective for 2035, which includes preventing any attacks that could test Europe’s unity and credibility.
Technological Independence and Digital Sovereignty
Another critical aspect of the plan is to reduce Europe’s technological dependency on external suppliers, particularly from the US and China. The report calls for prioritizing European-made systems, especially in digital and artificial intelligence sectors. France has initiated efforts to establish a Digital Sovereignty Observatory aimed at mapping the reliance of government and associated businesses on non-European technology.
The HCSP report suggests that by 2035, the goal should not be full European military integration but rather fostering collaboration with like-minded partners to achieve rapid results in defense capabilities.
Preserving National Unity Amid Hybrid Warfare
Finally, the plan stresses the importance of preserving national unity in the face of heightened hybrid warfare. It identifies the need for capabilities to counter information-based attacks that aim to destabilize societies, although specific methods for achieving this were not detailed in the report.
As France moves forward with its 2035 national security plan, the emphasis on military transformation and technological independence reflects a proactive approach to addressing the evolving security landscape in Europe.
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