In his speech, the head of state evaded on Wednesday the question of maintaining a French military presence in Mali, at a time when Paris maintains exechable relations with the Malian junta.
Le Monde with AFP
Only the future of the French military presence in Mali has not been clarified. The Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, took advantage Wednesday, January 19, of the last wishes to the armies of his five-year old to boost the steady increase in the defense budget under his presidency and salute the commitment of the troops.
Addressing soldiers at the Oberhoffen Army camp (Bas-Rhin), he recalled:
“I wanted, in the Military Programming Act [2019-2025], to give armies adapted, modern, powerful, innovative ways to better complete their missions today, and tomorrow.”
“198 billion euros are mobilized over the period 2019-2023: a commitment taken and held year after year for a profound renewal of our defense.” “Since its promulgation, the trajectory of resources of the LPM has been rigorously respected, “he argued.
Tribute supported by armies
“The challenge of the next few years (…) will be to further adapt our army model to new threats,” he continued, saying that “France must defend his interests and carry out his values, Those of Europe, in a world where the strategic competition is increasing, with a disinhibition of the behavior of certain states, while the terrorist threat remains strong “.
The head of state issued a tribute supported by armies:
“At your head for almost five years, I know exactly what underlies the results achieved, the operational successes, the Battle of Baghouz [in 2019 against the Islamic State Organization in Syria] to the operation” Hamilton “[Air raid in Syria in 2018], from the neutralization of terrorist leaders to the deployment of a military element of resuscitation to Mulhouse, or more recently, the operation” Apagan “[of evacuation in Afghanistan in August].”
The Nation “shows you its immense respect and infinite recognition for your sacrifices,” he added after visiting the Army Intelligence Services workshops.
The question of maintaining Mali eluted
In his speech, the head of state has evaded the question of maintaining a French military presence in Mali, at a time when Paris maintains exechable relations with the Malian junta, which refuses to organize elections quickly and recourse, according to Paris, to Russian mercenaries.
France, militarily present in Mali for nine years to fight jihadists via the operations “Serval” then “Barkhane”, has undertaken a reduction of its numbers and a reorganization of its device.
But it had so far the intention of maintaining troops in Gao, Menaka and Gossi, with the new European group of special forces “Takuba” initiated by Paris to share the burden.
The President only commented:
“Our action adjusts, the fight against terrorism continues and is transformed. I salute the commitment of our European and African partners as well as the quality of the work carried out to take, in the face of a very scalable situation. , good decisions. “