March 12, 2025 (EIRNS)—French President Emmanuel Macron gathered Armed Forces chiefs from 37 NATO-plus countries, without the United States, in Paris on March 11. The meeting was behind closed doors. An Elysée source told the Italian daily Libero that Macron urged that they move from the concept to the plan to deploy European troops in Ukraine.
According to AP, “A French military official said the force could include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraine’s defense. The Western official in Kyiv, offering another idea on the table, said they could incorporate direct and immediate strikes on Russian assets in the event of a violation.”
French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard posted on his social media after the meeting: “A decisive meeting bringing together 37 army chiefs of staff or their representatives. Unity and solidarity: the need for a common front to ensure the security of the European continent and strengthen the commitment to peace in Ukraine. Shared military planning that must be accelerated. Concrete proposals to ensure lasting peace and long-term security.”
Burkhard proudly reposted a photo and a tweet by his British colleague Adm. Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defense Staff: “Today I joined my French counterpart, Thierry Burkhard, as co-host for a gathering of 37 nations and 34 defence chiefs to discuss support for Ukraine, and Europe’s role in resolving the conflict in coordination with the U.S.”
That same day, Macron reacted to remarks by Deputy Sébastien Chenu of the Rassemblement National, insisting he is not inventing a Russian threat. Speaking at the ceremony where he laid the foundation stone of the future headquarters of the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI), Macron said: “In the debates of the last few days, I have heard people question the geopolitical threat. ‘The President of the Republic would be making up the Russian threat, while the real threat is terrorism.’ It is clear that these people are not in step with the times. A great nation does not have to choose between fighting against geopolitical threats or against threats to its territory posed by terrorists. It must do both at the same time.”
