France to invest billions in defence of Europe's freedom, Macron says
The French leader set out these plans in a speech in which he called for intensified efforts to protect Europe and to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion.
'Since 1945, freedom has never been so threatened, and never so seriously,' Macron said in the French president's traditional speech to the military on the eve of Bastille Day.
'To be free in this world, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful,' he said.
France plans to allocate €64 billion for defence in 2027, according to the plan outlined by Macron. This figure is double the €32 billion the country was spending on defence when he became president in 2017.
He insisted France can afford higher military spending even as it seeks to reduce its national debt. While conservatives and far-right parties broadly support his push for greater defence investment, left-wing parties have accused the government of prioritising military spending over social welfare.
Macron warned that Europe faces mounting dangers from Russia's war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and foreign-led disinformation campaigns, including propaganda targeting children.
He also instructed France's military and defence leadership to launch a 'strategic dialogue' with European partners about the potential role of France's nuclear arsenal in Europe's security architecture. In a rare step, France and the UK recently agreed to deepen cooperation on nuclear defence.
Macron's speech came as US President Donald Trump is expected to make an announcement about Russia on Monday and as the head of NATO travels to Washington for two days of talks.
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