Paris, October 4, 2024 – The Europe Today: French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu has identified Russia as France’s primary adversary, alongside terrorist groups, in an interview with Le Point magazine. The conversation, published Wednesday, coincided with the release of Lecornu’s new book, in which he discussed current security challenges faced by Paris.
When asked about the greatest threat to France, Lecornu responded, “Apart from terrorist groups, clearly it is the Russian Federation.” He emphasized that Russia has become “even more aggressive” this year than in previous years, citing threats to France’s interests in Africa and its Armed Forces. Lecornu specifically mentioned an incident in which Russian air traffic control allegedly threatened to shoot down a French Rafale patrol.
The minister further accused Russia of “waging an information war” and “militarizing new environments, including the seabed and cyberspace.”
Although Lecornu did not detail specific incidents, tensions between Russia and NATO have heightened, with both sides accusing each other of dangerous aerial maneuvers. In March, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its jets had escorted two French Rafale warplanes flying near the Russian border over the Black Sea.
Russia has repeatedly criticized France’s military support for Ukraine, warning of potential escalation. In January, Moscow summoned the French envoy over the involvement of French citizens in the Ukraine conflict, which France denied facilitating.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking in May, accused French President Emmanuel Macron of “breathing” Russophobia and using hostile rhetoric to boost France’s standing on the global stage.
