France: Macron unveils plans to increase military budget
France's President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a significant defense spending plan, aiming to boost the country's military budget to €64 billion by 2027, three years ahead of the original target of 2030.
In a speech delivered on the eve of Bastille Day, Macron emphasised the need for France to be powerful in the current geopolitical landscape, where Europe faces numerous threats. He highlighted the importance of European countries rearming to counter these threats, ensuring that France does not leave its European allies on the frontline.
The increased spending will see an additional €3.5 billion allocated to the 2026 defense budget, over and above the planned increase, and an extra €3 billion added to the 2027 defense budget, ensuring the total reaches €64 billion. This represents a doubling of the 2017 defense budget of €32 billion.
Macron identified Russia's war in Ukraine, wars in the Middle East, and the uncertainty from the United States as threats to Europe. He also warned about the dangers of cyber threats and disinformation campaigns.
To finance this increase, Macron stated that the increased spending will be financed through increased economic activity and production without raising the country's debt. He reiterated the importance of decisions taken now for peace on the continent.
In a nod to the importance of military independence, Macron stated, "To be free in this world, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful."
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will provide more details about Macron's plans for the 2026 budget in an address on Tuesday. The article does not mention any specific countries or regions beyond Russia, the United States, and the Middle East.
Macron did not discuss any new measures to counter the identified threats beyond his previously announced defense spending increase. The article does not provide any new information about the total defense spending for 2026 or 2027.
According to Macron, freedom is currently more threatened than ever since 1945. The president's defense spending plan is a clear indication of his commitment to ensuring France's security and the security of its European allies in the face of growing threats.
Europe's escalating threats from war-and-conflicts, such as Russia's war in Ukraine and the Middle East, have led France's President Emmanuel Macron to emphasize the need for European countries to rearm. This is evident in his defense spending plan, which aims to increase France's military budget to €64 billion by 2027, doubling it from the 2017 budget. Moreover, politics and general-news outlets across the world are closely monitoring Macron's plans and their implications for world peace.
