Is President Emmanuel Macron really preparing to take France to war in 2026?

Published on 05/09/2025 - 16:27 GMT+2

Social media users are claiming that nan French authorities is secretly preparing to spell to warfare pinch Russia by March 2026, referencing an article published by nan satirical newspaper "Le Canard enchaîné".

"Behind his good words astir bid successful Ukraine, his [Emmanuel Macron's] hypocrisy comes to light," said 1 net personification successful a station shared connected X successful August.

Thierry Mariani, MEP for nan far-right Rassemblement National party, suggested that Macron would support a warfare because it would let him to cancel nan 2027 elections, saying that "in a warfare you tin nary longer clasp elections."

More than 3 years into Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine, these rumours person sparked interest and concern. To get to nan bottommost of this speculation, EuroVerify has checked nan facts.

To begin, le Canard enchaîné's article is authentic and was published successful August.

The newspaper revealed that France's Health Minister Catherine Vautrin asked French wellness agencies to hole for a imaginable "major engagement" by March 2026, successful a missive reportedly sent connected 18 July.

According to nan newspaper, French authorities person besides asked hospitals to hole for nan anticipation of treating respective 1000 soldiers complete a play ranging from 10 to 180 days.

The ministry said France's hospitals should beryllium alert of nan "limitations successful wartime" and beryllium fresh to attraction for some French and overseas soldiers successful nan arena of a awesome conflict.

The French Health Minister did not contradict nan beingness of this missive successful an question and reply pinch French broadcaster BFM-TV.

A spokesperson from nan Ministry of Health situation centre told EuroVerify that it was anticipating nan "various risks and threats that could impact nan French healthcare system."

The spokesperson explained that it was preparing for nan anticipation of dealing pinch "a perchance ample influx of victims from abroad," meaning that nan country's hospitals request to beryllium fresh to dainty "military patients successful nan civilian wellness system."

Macron advocates deterrence

Based connected nan accusation provided to EuroVerify by French authorities, it appears that Macron is seeking to instrumentality preventive measures should a conflict occur, alternatively than engaging successful nan progressive pursuit of war, which contradicts online users' claims.

Meanwhile, allegations that Emmanuel Macron is secretly seeking to provoke a conflict pinch Russia contradict nan French President's nationalist statements.

The French President supports European rearmament and nan alleged Coalition of nan Willing assembled for information guarantess for Ukraine, but has besides stressed nan value of deterrence successful bid to forestall Russia from expanding its warfare of aggression to nan remainder of nan European continent.

Despite having referred to nan value of "not humiliating Russia" backmost successful 2022, Macron often speaks astir nan threat posed by Russia, describing Putin arsenic "an ogre" who "needs to support eating" to guarantee "his survival."

While far-right circles often impeach Macron of exaggerating nan threat Moscow poses successful a bid to support power, EuroVerify gathered nary grounds to take sides this hypothesis.