France’s Army Chief of Staff Unveils Inaugural Agenda, Prioritizing AI Integration and Strategic Adaptation

MILAN — Gen. Jacques de Montgros, France’s Army Chief of Staff, has published his first official agenda since assuming command on July 26, establishing the service’s key priorities.

Released on Aug. 24 and shared publicly on X earlier this week, the document outlines three central themes: artificial intelligence integration, adaptation to the evolving strategic environment, and addressing future recruitment challenges. According to Montgros, the most urgent objective is rapidly incorporating artificial intelligence and autonomous systems into operational frameworks.

“The Army must scale up the integration of these developments without abandoning its other capabilities or other factors that provide superiority, namely the commander’s judgement and collective strength,” he stated.

The second priority involves adapting to shifts in the broader strategic landscape, which Montgros described as “Europe’s strategic awakening”—the same theme highlighted during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris on July 14.

He emphasized that the force must be capable of seamlessly integrating surprise, maneuver, and attrition to achieve decisive results “at the time of our choosing.”

Increased funding could support these objectives by enabling more effective adaptation to emerging threats and facilitating a transition from low-intensity counter-insurgency operations toward greater European strategic autonomy. On Aug. 18, Paris formally adopted its revised military programming law, allocating an additional €36 billion ($42 billion) to defense spending over the 2026-2030 period.

Montgros also identified a long-term demographic challenge as a critical concern for the army.

“We must anticipate it — the Army’s ability to accomplish its missions in the future will depend on its capacity to recruit, retain, and remain deeply rooted in the Nation, giving a full place to active-duty soldiers, reservists, and national service volunteers,” he said.

France’s new voluntary national military service program officially launches this month, with an initial cohort of 3,000 participants aged 18 to 25. The program spans ten months, beginning with five weeks of basic military training before participants are assigned to units within the navy, air force, or army.

As of 2025, the French Armed Forces comprise approximately 200,000 military personnel and 64,000 civilian employees, with annual recruitment reaching 27,000 individuals.

Articulating his vision for the force, Montgros expressed his desire for “an Army that is feared, proud, and bold.”

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