Overview

• A Health Ministry letter dated July 18 directs French regional authorities to have hospitals ready by March 2026 for a potential “major engagement.”
• Planning parameters reported by the press include caring for military patients over 10 to 180 days, with scenarios involving large numbers of wounded from France and allied countries.
• The directive envisions temporary medical centers near airports, ports, and major rail and bus hubs to triage and reroute foreign personnel.
• Health Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed the directive and emphasized it is precautionary planning rather than a response to a specific imminent threat.
• Germany’s defense chief Carsten Breuer said national and NATO forces will be on guard ahead of Russia-Belarus Zapad 2025 exercises scheduled for September 12–16.