French President Emmanuel Macron announced that in the “age of predators,” his country will increase its defense budget to 64 billion euros by 2027, Politico reports.
Macron announced the budget increase on the 13th of July, saying that in order to maintain freedom in the modern world, one must instill fear, and to instill fear, one must be strong. “While we had planned to double the defense budget by 2030, we will double it by 2027. There will be €64 billion for defense in 2027, that’s twice more than in 2017,” the French president added.
The president’s address to the armed forces, a tradition ahead of Bastille Day on the 14th of July, came after a recent NATO summit, where allies agreed to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP. NATO members in Europe are simultaneously trying to stop Russia’s expansionist plans and prepare for a smaller US military presence on the continent.
Macron signaled in January that France would have to spend more on defense than planned.
To prepare the public for the additional spending at a time when the country’s finances are already in a bad shape, the French president called on General Thierry Burkhard to outline the threats France faces, primarily from Russia.
The additional defense funds will not be taken from other budget items, nor will there be borrowing. Instead, France’s economic activity will be increased. Macron said French Prime Minister François Bayrou would present the country’s 2026 budget guidelines on the 15th of July. Bayrou is expected to announce cuts of 40 billion euros in various areas, with a planned increase in the defense budget. A revised military planning law will be presented to the public in the fall.
Macron, who has criticized US President Donald Trump’s tariff war against Europe, called on European countries to “act together, produce together and buy together” regarding defense. He also said France and Germany would hold a joint Defense and Security Council meeting in late August to “make new decisions.”
“In the age of predators, no one can remain motionless. We have a lead now, but tomorrow, at the same pace, we will be overtaken,” Macron said.
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