Headlines
France calls new U.S. security doctrine 'brutal clarification'
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 9, 2025
Last updated: January 8, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 9, 2025
Last updated: January 8, 2026
PARIS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Europe must accelerate its rearmament in response to a stark shift in U.S. military doctrine, a French government official said on Tuesday, calling Washington's new security strategy "an extremely brutal clarification" of its ideological posture.
The U.S. National Security Strategy, made public last week, caused shock across Europe, with a broadside that said the continent was facing "civilisation erasure" and that U.S. policy should include "cultivating resistance" within the European Union.
"The new American security strategy is an extremely brutal clarification of the United States' ideological posture," Junior Army Minister Alice Rufo told lawmakers at the National Assembly's weekly question-and-answer session.
"We live in a world of carnivores, Europe is no island, and Europe will be respected only if it knows how to make itself respected," she said.
The remarks from Rufo, who has previously served as President Emmanuel Macron's deputy national security adviser, are the strongest public comments to date from French officials following the release of the U.S. National Security Strategy.
Rufo, who met Pentagon and other U.S. security officials over the weekend in Washington, said she knew the document was causing internal "debates" within the U.S. administration, especially as to how Russia is described.
(Reporting by Michel RoseEditing by Gareth Jones)
Military doctrine refers to the fundamental principles by which military forces guide their actions in support of national objectives. It encompasses the strategies, tactics, and procedures that govern military operations.
Rearmament is the process of rebuilding or enhancing a nation's military capabilities, typically following a period of disarmament or reduced military strength. It involves acquiring new weapons, technology, and training.
A national security strategy is a document that outlines a country's approach to safeguarding its national interests, addressing threats, and ensuring the safety of its citizens. It typically includes military, diplomatic, and economic components.
Ideological posture refers to the set of beliefs and values that guide a nation's policies and actions, particularly in the context of international relations and security. It shapes how a country perceives threats and allies.
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