Great Power Competition: Understanding the Role of Leaders in French Joint Forces

Engaged in counterinsurgency or counterterrorism operations for several decades, Western forces are now faced with the resurgence of Great Power competition (GPC) and the specter of high-intensity warfare. This type of conflict, characterized by the clash of symmetrical military powers confronting each other with high-tech capabilities in a wide range of domains and fields of action, marks the return of potentially high levels of attrition and the end of the relative operational and strategic comfort known during past asymmetric conflicts. Here, Delbart and Riera discuss how France understands GPC today and how it expects it to evolve. They also identify and analyze specific leadership issues and their consequences on superior officers' personnel development while focusing on how to optimize career management within the context of 21st century warfare.