**Citing changing geopolitical relations and the ‘prospect of a major conflict,’ the French army will begin a large-scale exercise in 2023, involving some 20,000 soldiers. Le Monde journalists Elise Vincent and Cédric Pietralunga report:**
They’re set to be some of the most significant French army exercises since the end of the Cold War. French and allied military forces (United States, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, and more) will conduct maneuvers in 2023, dubbed “Orion,” which are aimed at simulating a “major conflict” with a state adversary, the French armed forces announced. According to General Yves Métayer, who is responsible for planning the operation within the armed forces, “We have never carried out an exercise of such magnitude for so long.
“Specifically, several maneuvers are scheduled to take place from late February to early May. First, troops will land by air and sea in the south of France over a three-week period. The objective is to establish a bridgehead in a country called “Arnland,” which is in the grip of being destabilized, and orchestrated by militias and a hostile state called “Mercury.” In addition to about 7,000 soldiers, the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, two amphibious helicopter carriers, and 20 other surface vessels and submarines will also be mobilized.
In the second operation, the French forces will try to repel a direct invasion of “Arnland” by “Mercury,” which will take place from mid-April to early May. There will be a division-sized deployment of 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers in Champagne, northeastern France, on a front 50 kilometers long and 200 kilometers deep. This mobilization will include all army resources, including the new Griffon and Jaguar armored vehicles.
As a result of the evolving geostrategic context and the “prospect of a major conflict,” this major exercise is justified according to the French General Staff. “We must prepare for the worst so that we can avoid it or mitigate its effects,” said General Métayer. Despite the fact that the idea for this exercise came up in the summer of 2020, the war in Ukraine has accelerated its implementation. Additionally, the scenarios are inspired by the pro-Russian militia’s struggle in the Donbas since 2014, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
“French and allied military forces (United States, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, and more) will conduct maneuvers in 2023, dubbed “Orion,” aimed at simulating a “major conflict” with a state adversary, involving some 20,000 soldiers the French armed forces announced.
Maneuvers are scheduled to take place from late February to early May”
Putin: “This is a direct threat!”
NATO: “Relax, it’s just an exercise. *You know how this works.*”
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**Citing changing geopolitical relations and the ‘prospect of a major conflict,’ the French army will begin a large-scale exercise in 2023, involving some 20,000 soldiers. Le Monde journalists Elise Vincent and Cédric Pietralunga report:**
They’re set to be some of the most significant French army exercises since the end of the Cold War. French and allied military forces (United States, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, and more) will conduct maneuvers in 2023, dubbed “Orion,” which are aimed at simulating a “major conflict” with a state adversary, the French armed forces announced. According to General Yves Métayer, who is responsible for planning the operation within the armed forces, “We have never carried out an exercise of such magnitude for so long.
“Specifically, several maneuvers are scheduled to take place from late February to early May. First, troops will land by air and sea in the south of France over a three-week period. The objective is to establish a bridgehead in a country called “Arnland,” which is in the grip of being destabilized, and orchestrated by militias and a hostile state called “Mercury.” In addition to about 7,000 soldiers, the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, two amphibious helicopter carriers, and 20 other surface vessels and submarines will also be mobilized.
In the second operation, the French forces will try to repel a direct invasion of “Arnland” by “Mercury,” which will take place from mid-April to early May. There will be a division-sized deployment of 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers in Champagne, northeastern France, on a front 50 kilometers long and 200 kilometers deep. This mobilization will include all army resources, including the new Griffon and Jaguar armored vehicles.
As a result of the evolving geostrategic context and the “prospect of a major conflict,” this major exercise is justified according to the French General Staff. “We must prepare for the worst so that we can avoid it or mitigate its effects,” said General Métayer. Despite the fact that the idea for this exercise came up in the summer of 2020, the war in Ukraine has accelerated its implementation. Additionally, the scenarios are inspired by the pro-Russian militia’s struggle in the Donbas since 2014, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
**Read the article here:** [**https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/11/16/the-french-army-is-preparing-for-high-intensity-war_6004499_4.html**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/11/16/the-french-army-is-preparing-for-high-intensity-war_6004499_4.html)
“French and allied military forces (United States, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, and more) will conduct maneuvers in 2023, dubbed “Orion,” aimed at simulating a “major conflict” with a state adversary, involving some 20,000 soldiers the French armed forces announced.
Maneuvers are scheduled to take place from late February to early May”
Putin: “This is a direct threat!”
NATO: “Relax, it’s just an exercise. *You know how this works.*”