French Army Chief of Staff General Thierry Burkhard stated on July 11, 2025, that Russia has designated France as its main adversary in Europe. He attributed this designation to France's strong military position as the leading power in Europe and its support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Burkhard described Russia as a lasting threat to France, emphasizing that the Kremlin has made France a priority target. He highlighted that Russia's war in Ukraine is existential for Moscow, with objectives including weakening Europe and dismantling NATO. Burkhard also warned of a mounting hybrid warfare campaign against France involving cyberattacks, espionage, disinformation, and sabotage. Additionally, he mentioned other security challenges such as criminal cyber threats, terrorism in Africa, and destabilizing actions by Iran in the Middle East. The French military leader called for increased European defense capabilities to address these multifaceted threats. His remarks came during a rare press conference ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's speech to the armed forces and shortly before the July 14 national military parade.