Contenu du sommaire : Pour une stratégie d'influence

Information has become central to strategic competition. Influence is now a major component of our operations—increasingly so, given that digital technology is accelerating operational tempo. The influence function is a basic necessity.

A strategy of influence is now essential in the framework of the international competition confronting France today. Hence the greater effort our country is preparing to make in order to reinforce its functions and promote its model, one founded on democracy, freedom and respect of international law.

The National strategic review presented by the President of the Republic in Toulon on 9 November highlights a state of the world characterised by competition, contest and confrontation, and a response to it characterised by power, influence and resilience. This should form the foundation stone not only of the next Military programming law, but of the nation itself.

France is a credible military power, with a commitment to substantial defence effort. It is nevertheless important to increase our influence within NATO, particularly by listening more attentively to our partners. That in turn demands collective effort from everyone involved—politicians included.

The National strategic review offers a welcome level of ambition, and in particular promotes the concept of influence. That said, since the review defines neither means nor assets, we will have to await the next Military programming law to see the level of French commitment to responding to global tumult.

The introduction of influence in the National strategic review is innovative in both form and function. It will require better coordination of all state actors, though questions remain on the desired objectives of the link between influence, power and importance.

The National strategic review underlines the importance of a strategy of influence. Given the now essential nature of cyber space, the strategy must also take into account digital influence warfare. Modes of action and assets to be allocated nevertheless remain to be defined. The next Military programming law should offer greater insight.

The designation of influence as a new strategic function marks a development in our concept of the security posture we need today. And yet influence cannot be made to order: it has to be built, and needs to form part of an overall approach consistent with our form of governance.

Influence is the expression of the power of a state and of its ability to act on an international level. Influence thus constitutes a direct element of sovereignty and needs to draw upon numerous factors of leverage such as diplomacy, culture and the media, and also upon finance and the rule of law.

Language is a major tool of influence. Francophony is therefore a major asset, worthy of development. La Renaissance Française is an association founded in 1915 which aids broader recognition of French—a universal language, bearing within it a centuries-old culture, one that should be cultivated and developed to contribute to the influence of France.

The EU has been constructed step by step, strengthening its approach principally through the economy. That said, politics have gradually intervened, compelling member states to accept the idea of power. That now requires the development of a genuine strategy of influence.

The EU has long avoided the idea of power and sovereignty. With the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine Europe has nevertheless been pressured into accepting that it must at last make its mark as a geopolitical actor. The road to rising to this challenge is a bumpy one.

German strategic decisions have been dramatically called into question since 24 February 2022. The decision to eliminate nuclear power generation in favour of Russian gas, and a dependence on exports to China are now posing enormous difficulties; at the same time the Franco-German alliance regarding defence matters remains delicate.

French aviation has been able to develop its autonomy through the support of an increasingly high-performance aerospace industry. The independence in capability thus acquired has also drawn upon carefully-controlled inter-dependence within both NATO and the EU. Some interoperability has been achieved and is being developed further.

Taking up the legacy of the USSR, Russia has begun to establish itself in Africa by penetration of the most unstable of countries through the use of military might. The paramilitary Wagner Group is one of Moscow's strong arms, earning its keep through pillage of natural resources such as gold.

The war Russia is waging against Ukraine continues to invite questioning of Moscow's objectives and military strategy. A multi-dimensional approach is required if we are to understand a conflict deliberately sought by the master of the Kremlin in violation of all international rules.

The introduction of the notion of continuum in the 2008 Livre Blanc (Defence white paper) marked a significant break with previous concepts of defence matters. The problem at the time related to belligerance and its legal definition, together with a risk of confusion with common-law crime.

The US National Security Strategy (NSS), presented on 12 October 2022, is a comprehensive document which describes Washington's range of strategic options. Those chosen will have a major impact on international relations. The NSS also allows us to understand American thinking on global evolution.

Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky (1893-1937) had considerable influence over the Red Army through his conception of operational doctrine which was followed in the Second World War. Although a victim of the Stalinist purges, his influence can be seen even today in the Gerasimov doctrine.