- French hospitals have been instructed by the country’s Ministry of Health to prepare for a "major military engagement" by March 2026.
- The directive, revealed in a letter to regional health agencies, anticipates 10,000 to 50,000 men in hospital over a period of 10 to 180 days.
- Health Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed the preparations, saying they are a normal part of anticipating crises in the current international context.
- The letter, dated 18 July, suggests France could serve as a rear base for a large-scale conflict and mentions setting up medical centres near transport hubs.
- It follows the distribution of a 'survival manual' to French households and President Emmanuel Macron's plan to double France's defence spending by 2027.
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