Particle.news
Download on the App Store

French Army Chief Calls U.S. an Unpredictable Ally, Citing Operations Kept From Paris

The remarks signal rising strain in coordination with Washington on Middle East operations.

General Chief of Staff of the French armed Forces Fabien Mandon delivers a speech during a military training at the Montoir-de-Bretagne Airport near Saint-Nazaire as part of ORION 26, a joint and combined high-intensity warfare exercise, France, February 19, 2026. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Overview

  • France’s top general, Fabien Mandon, said the United States no longer reliably warns Paris before launching or ending military operations.
  • Mandon said the shift hurts France’s security and interests, pointing to the U.S. troop pullout from Afghanistan that he said came without prior notice.
  • He added that recent U.S. actions in the Middle East also went ahead without informing France, which he stressed remains an ally.
  • The French armed forces are prioritizing ways to protect citizens traveling through the region as fighting and flight disruptions continue.
  • Trump has criticized allies for not helping secure the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that carries about one‑fifth of the world’s oil shipments, while Russian state media cast the broader conflict in far more sweeping terms than Reuters reported.