French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking to the French military on 13 July, the eve of Bastille Day, announced a significant increase in the country’s defence budget, international media reported.
He said Europe is facing the most serious threat since the end of World War II and freedom on the continent “has never depended so much on decisions taken now.”
“We are living at a critical moment. Imperialist policies, the annexation of territories, the principle of ‘he who has the power is right’ – all these have returned to the agenda,” Macron said, referring to Russia’s actions.
He emphasised that France must remain “free and mistress of its own destiny”.
“To be free in this world, it is necessary to be feared. To be feared, we must be strong,” the president added.
According to his plans, the defence budget will increase by 3.5 billion euros in 2026 and another 3 billion in 2027. By 2030, defence spending is set to reach €67 billion a year – double what it was in 2017.
France’s defence budget has grown significantly since Macron came to power, from €32.2 billion in 2017 to €50.5 billion now.