French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that modern conflicts are increasingly extending into space, suggesting future wars could originate there, citing a growing threat from Russia. The announcement came alongside a commitment to significantly increase investment in France’s space-based military capabilities.
Speaking in Toulouse, a hub for France’s aerospace industry, Macron stated, “Today’s war is being waged in space, and tomorrow’s war will begin in space. Space is no longer a safe haven; it has become a battleground.”
Macron specifically accused Russia of conducting espionage activities in space following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He alleged that Russian satellites have been monitoring French satellites, and that Russia has been responsible for widespread GPS signal jamming and cyberattacks targeting space infrastructure.
He also highlighted what he described as a “shocking Russian threat” involving nuclear weapons in space, emphasizing the potentially catastrophic consequences for the entire world.
To counter these perceived threats, Macron announced an additional 4.2 billion euros (approximately $4.9 billion) in funding for military space activities between now and 2030. Details of how the funds will be allocated were not immediately disclosed.
The announcement follows comments made just weeks ago by the French Chief of the Defence Staff, General Fabien Mandon. He stressed the need for French forces to be “prepared for a shock within three or four years” when facing Russia, which may seek to “continue the war on our continent,” justifying France’s ongoing “rearmament efforts.”
General Mandon, who assumed his position on September 1st, told members of the French Parliament’s Defence Committee that his top priority was ensuring the armed forces are ready for a potential shock within the next few years, noting that this “test” might already be underway in hybrid forms, but could potentially escalate to something “more violent.”
These statements come at a time when France’s military influence in key African strongholds is diminishing, with the French army having recently handed over its last military base in Chad this year.
