The French Government is set to distribute a 'survival manual' designed to prepare its citizens for emergencies, including potential military invasions and natural disasters.

The 20-page document will include a variety of safety measures aimed at protecting individuals and communities in the event of imminent threats.

Composed of three sections, the manual will provide advice on actions to take in crises, how to defend local communities, and ways to engage with voluntary reserve units or firefighting groups.

The announcement has raised concerns among the French populace, who fear the implications of such a publication.

Officials from the French Government have stated that the issuance of the manual is not a direct response to the escalating geopolitical climate, particularly regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine.

A spokesperson from the prime minister's office clarified, 'The purpose of this document is to ensure the resilience of populations in the face of all types of crisis, whether natural, technological, cyber, or security-related.'

The manual was drafted by the General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN), which has attempted to reassure the public by contending that the intention of the guidelines is not to prepare citizens for warfare.

Despite the government’s assertions, President Emmanuel Macron has been vocal about the need for France and Europe to brace for a 'Russian threat,' particularly following recent shifts in US foreign policy under the Trump administration that have seen a distancing from European defense initiatives.

This context has led to speculation about whether the manual's timing reflects increased fears regarding national security.

Comparisons have been drawn to the UK's historical 'Protect and Survive' campaign, which ran from 1974 to 1980. That initiative advised citizens on how to protect themselves from nuclear threats, including guidance on building fallout shelters.

In a parallel move, Sweden recently issued a guide entitled 'If Crisis or War Comes,' distributing 5 million leaflets that encouraged preparedness for potential armed conflict, citing regional tensions due to proximity to Russia.

The release of France's survival manual coincides with a recent diplomatic incident involving a French researcher who was expelled from the US for expressing a personal opinion regarding the Trump administration.

The academic was detained and deported after arriving at George Bush International Airport in Houston ahead of a conference on March 9, prompting further scrutiny of France's international relations amid prevailing tensions.