Brest (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron presented his wishes to the armed forces in Brest on Tuesday, referring to an "adjustment" of French forces in the Sahel and calling on the United States to re-engage in the Middle East.

The Head of State also wanted to highlight the role of social lift of the army.

While more and more voices in France are questioning the continuation of Operation Barkhane, eight years after the start of the anti-jihadist intervention in the region, he referred to a possible resizing of French troops on the spot by affirming that "the results are already there".

The executive is considering reducing the number of soldiers engaged, currently around 5,100, a subject that will be on the table in February in N'Djaména at the G5 Sahel summit (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad).

"I will be present in N'Djaména for a new summit and structuring decisions, with an unchanged course, stability and victory against terrorism," he said.

The Head of State praised the commitment of the armies in several theaters of international operations and paid tribute to the eleven soldiers who died in combat.

He also hoped that the arrival of US President Joe Biden will mark a "re-engagement" of the United States in the Middle East and "structuring decisions" with "an awareness of the nature of the fight against terrorism", in particular in Syria and Iraq.

France fears a possible resurgence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Emphasizing the role of the army in promoting social ascent, he was pleased to see that "10% of the officers of the arms that I chose at the beginning of December to reach the stars entered the armies as non-commissioned soldiers or non-commissioned officers ".

A prelude to his next announcements on "equal opportunities", which should constitute the "left leg" of the end of his five-year term.

The Head of State also reassured the military on the increase in budgetary commitments, despite the expenditure linked to the health crisis, while a "review" clause is planned this year.

"The essential revival of our armies, which I decided in 2017, must be pursued resolutely within the framework of the military planning law. I have said it and repeated it, I solemnly reaffirm it today, the commitments I made will be kept, ”he said.

Alluding to criticism of his management of the health crisis, he launched: "I know how much each day we can explain how to win yesterday's war".

- "Social staircase" -

He began his visit with the Ecole des mousses, which trains some 200 young people aged 16 to 18 each year wishing to join the Navy from the third or second grade.

There he met a few boys and girls, who offered him a blue collar and the traditional "bachi" with a red pompom.

"We are following both maritime training and classical studies," explains Gabriel, 16, one of the four foams who spoke with him.

Like Martina, one of the 14 girls out of 200, "determined to enlist in the navy" at the end of her training.

For some of these recruits, in a situation of school failure, the Foams School plays an integrating role, like the Ministry of the Armed Forces which recruits more than 20,000 young people per year (26,000 in 2020) and asserts its role. of "social staircase".

After this visit, President Macron boarded the pontoon of the frigate Bretagne.

There he met in particular the first female diver in the navy.

He was accompanied by Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, Minister Delegate Geneviève Darrieussecq and the main officers, including Chief of Staff François Lecointre.

Mr. Macron now maintains peaceful relations with the army after a stormy start to his five-year term marked by the thunderous departure of General Pierre de Villiers in 2017.

The 2021 budget for the Armed Forces amounts to 39.2 billion euros, up for the third consecutive year (+ 4.5% over one year).

© 2021 AFP