The head of the National Gendarmerie, Hubert Bonneau, warns in a letter sent to the agency's staff about the "serious likelihood" of armed conflict on French territory.
According to General Bonneau,* "various entities and competitors" are seeking to destabilize the situation in the country.
More commitments from Europe
In a letter published by Le Monde and Intelligence Online, the invasion of Ukraine and political events in the U.S. with their potential consequences for NATO are cited as reasons for seriously considering the hypothesis that European countries should take on larger commitments for self-defense.
The head of the National Gendarmerie believes that it is the duty of his subordinates to be prepared for such changes.
Hubert Bonneau's letter was received with restraint by gendarmerie officials, who believe that operational defense of the territory is not their priority and point out the lack of resources to implement it.
Combating organized crime and drug trafficking
Emphasizing the need to combat organized crime and drug trafficking, General Bonneau announced the establishment of a National Judicial Police Unit within the gendarmerie and appointed General Sylvain Noyau as its head.
The gendarmerie chief also considers it necessary to "enhance the efficiency of gendarmerie actions" in the field of intelligence "while absolutely maintaining institutional balance" in this area.
Touching on the topic of budgetary resources, General Bonneau suggests that "choices will have to be made and priorities set," and recommends revisiting the budget project prepared by the previous government for 2025.