At the head of the armed forces, a new duo of generals ready for the 2027 deadline

After weeks of negotiations, the President of the Republic finally confirmed, on Wednesday, July 23, at the Council of Ministers, the name of the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMA): that of his current Chief of Staff at the Élysée, Air Force General Fabien Mandon. This appointment marks the departure of General Thierry Burkhard, who has held the post since the summer of 2021, and begins a new cycle at the top of the State on defense issues, while the risks of a confrontation with Russia are high and the presidential election of 2027 is fast approaching.

This decision was expected, as General Burkhard, 60, had already been given a one-year extension, until 2024, and longevity of more than four years in this position is extremely rare. "Thank you (...) for having served France with honor, courage and vision," Emmanuel Macron declared on the X network. The head of state also confirmed, on Wednesday, the appointment of Lieutenant General Vincent Giraud to replace him. The latter had held the position of number two in the armed forces for a year and was expected to land a prime position in this meticulously prepared transfer window.

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