AT THE FRONT PAGE / Middle East: war in the era of AI As the war in the Middle East enters its third week, between swarms of drones and artificial intelligence (AI), the battlefield is transforming. “After the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the war in Iran appears as an additional step in the increasingly systematic use of AI by major military powers,” says Laure de Roucy-Rochegonde, director of the Ifri Center for Geopolitical Technologies. AI is now widely used by the belligerents to pilot autonomous drones, analyze data, and prioritize targets. On February 28, the United States and Israel conducted more than 900 strikes in just 12 hours, a simultaneity made possible by intensive use of AI capabilities. The Pentagon relied on Claude, an AI developed by Anthropic. However, according to researcher Emilia Probasco, “It has flaws […] The algorithm can, for example, be biased and wrongly identify a particular target.” Faced with the risks of drifts and misuse of AI, the UN had requested in June 2025 that states establish binding rules to regulate it. On the Iranian side, Shahed drones have emerged as the central tool of retaliation. Inexpensive, around 17,000 euros, produced in bulk and launched in swarms, these drones seek to deplete the enemy’s defensive system: a cheap drone can force the enemy to launch an interceptor costing 3 million euros. If AI and drones revolutionize the conduct of war, do they also lead to confusion in responsibilities?
Guests: – Margot Vallin-Sénéchal, Secretary General of AMIAD, – General Dominique Trinquand, former head of the military mission to the UN, – Alexandra Saviana, senior reporter at L’Express, – Remotely, Jérémy Caussade, CEO of Aura Aéro, a French aerospace manufacturer.
Columns: – “The number of the day” by Fanny Guinochet – “What a story!” by Olivier Ravanello
THE BURNING QUESTION / Energy crisis: Is France doing enough? On Wednesday, March 18, Israel carried out strikes against the South Pars offshore gas field, the largest known gas reserve in the world, which provides about 70% of the natural gas consumed in Iran. In response, Iran carried out strikes on Ras Laffan, Qatar, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production site, raising the specter of a “gas war.” Qatar is tied by a series of long-term agreements on liquefied natural gas (LNG) with, among others, French Total, British Shell, Indian Petronet, and Italian Eni. Iran also targeted Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure, which announced its right to take military action if necessary. Up to now, the main concern was centered on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but this sequence raises fears of a new escalation in the conflict. While Italy’s Giorgia Meloni adopted a decree-law on Wednesday, March 19, reducing the fuel price by 0.25 euros per liter, the French government does not currently plan to lower taxes on fuel prices. Gathered at Matignon on Thursday, March 19, around Sébastien Lecornu and seven ministers involved in the conflict, the government met with various representatives of affected sectors, especially farmers and fishermen. How can France respond to these price hikes?
Guests: – Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Member of Parliament for “Together for the Republic” from Pas-de-Calais, – Chloé Le Coq, President of the association of energy economists.
