A confidential letter by the French Health Ministry dated July 18, 2025, directed regional health agencies to place hospitals on alert for a high-intensity war scenario in Europe, likely by March 2026, according to the French weekly Le Canard enchaîné. The preparation includes the massive reception of wounded soldiers and an unprecedented mobilization of medical personnel.

In an article titled "The Ministry of Health Mobilizes Hospitals for War," published on August 26, the newspaper revealed that the Ministry called on senior health officials to ensure the health system is ready, by next March, to face a "major mobilization".

Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, according to the weekly paper, has ordered specialized war injury medical centers to be established near train stations and airports, capable of receiving 100 daily casualties and up to 250 per day for three days during peak activity.

It further suggested that, due to its geographic position, France could be used as a rear base for an international alliance in a European conflict, adding that "the government therefore wants French hospitals ready to receive thousands of foreign soldiers passing through the country."

According to Le Canard enchaîné, the memo stated, "These young men, fit for combat, will require medical care, but primarily preventive measures such as screening and vaccination," and Vautrin clarified in a statement to BFMTV that this memo is considered "part of preliminary preparedness, like the strategic stockpiles for combating pandemics."

She stated, "I was not in office during the COVID-19 pandemic, remember, and there were not enough harsh words to describe the country's lack of preparedness," adding that "it is entirely natural for the country to anticipate crises and the consequences of unfolding events, as this is part of the responsibility of central administrations."