The Spanish Civil War complicated French security

The conflict in Spain added another immediate concern alongside Germany and Italy. French planners had to consider the possibility of authoritarian or openly hostile governments on three borders. Although Franco later avoided full belligerency in the Second World War, that outcome was not available to decision-makers in 1936. The uncertainty absorbed French attention while Germany and Italy were already challenging the European order. Arms-limitation commitments therefore had to be judged against threats whose alignment and timing remained unresolved.