Les réserves en première ligne ? Du citoyen-soldat à l'intérim
A central piece of national security during two centuries and an essential link between the military and the people, the French reserve forces have considerably decreased over the last decades.
Nevertheless, new economic constraints now urge for downsizing the number of troops and could revive the reserves" importance in safeguarding crucial capacities while respecting deeper defense budget cuts. France’s western allies, such as Great Britain or the United States, have already given their reserve forces a key role to support their force projection capability. Drawing lessons from these different experiences, the French armed forces must reform their reserve model and adapt to the new requirements in an age of austerity.
This study is published in French only: Les réserves en première ligne ? Du citoyen-soldat à l'intérim
Related centers and programs
Discover our other research centers and programsFind out more
Discover all our analysesEUDIS, HEDI, DIANA: What's behind Three Defense Innovation Acronyms?
In Europe, with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine showing little sign of abating, a persistent gap remains between security needs and defense spending. According to a 2006 commitment enshrined at the 2014 Wales NATO summit, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members should disburse no less than 2% of their national gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, out of which 20% is to be spent on equipment and research and development. In 2024, only 23 Allies out of 32 are expected to meet or exceed this target, though a significant improvement from only three in 2014. This total includes the United States (US) devoting 3.38% of its GDP to defense, constituting almost 70% of all NATO member defense spending combined.
From Ukraine to Gaza: Military Uses of Artificial Intelligence
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza show us the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) has become integral to battlefield operations.
French thinking on AI integration and interaction with nuclear command and control, force structure, and decision-making
This paper analyses the French literature on France’s perception of military AI, especially its consequences on strategic systems and competition, and nuclear deterrence.
The Future of Europe’s Strategic Deterrence is (also) at Sea
A cursory look at both France and the UK suggests that the future of European nuclear deterrence is at sea.