PARIS – On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans for an additional 6.5 billion euros in military funding over the next two years, addressing rising and unprecedented threats from Russia, terrorism, and cyber attacks.
In a comprehensive speech focused on strengthening Europe’s defense, Macron detailed these spending initiatives. He projected that France’s annual defense budget would reach 64 billion euros by 2027, the conclusion of his second term, up from the 32 billion euros when he first assumed office in 2017.
“Since 1945, our freedom has never faced such severe threats,” Macron stated during the traditional presidential address to the military, delivered on the eve of France’s Bastille Day national celebration.
″To be free in this world we must be feared. To be feared we must be powerful,” he said.
He insisted that France can find the money to spend more on the military even as it tries to bring down massive debts. Conservative and far-right parties have supported greater defense spending, while left-wing parties accuse the government of sacrificing hard-won social welfare benefits for military spending.
Europe is in danger because of Russia’s war in Ukraine and wars in the Middle East, and because ″the United States have added a form of uncertainty,″ Macron said. He also cited online disinformation campaigns by unnamed foreign governments and propaganda operations targeting children, in ″the screen era.″
Macron also ordered France’s top military and defense officials to start a ″strategic dialogue″ with European partners about the role that France’s nuclear arsenal could play in protecting Europe. France and Britain agreed recently to cooperate on nuclear arsenal issues.
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