On the eve of Bastille Day, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled plans to increase France’s military spending by an additional €6.5 billion over the next two years, warning that Europe faces its most serious security threats since the end of World War II.
In a formal address to military leaders at the Hôtel de Brienne in Paris on Sunday, Macron outlined his vision for strengthening French and European defense capabilities in the face of ongoing global instability. “Since 1945, freedom has never been so threatened, and never so seriously,” the French president stated.
Macron emphasized that France aims to reach an annual defense budget of €64 billion by 2027, doubling the country’s defense spending from €32 billion in 2017, when he first assumed the presidency.
“To be free in this world, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful,” Macron declared in his speech, underlining the importance of credible deterrence amid intensifying geopolitical tensions.
The president justified the increase in military expenditures as both necessary and sustainable, even as France seeks to address its high national debt. He argued that boosting defense readiness is critical given the multiple threats currently facing Europe, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, growing instability in the Middle East, and a rise in foreign-led disinformation campaigns—some of which, he warned, are targeting children.
While Macron’s call for stronger defense investment has garnered support from conservative and far-right parties, left-leaning political factions have raised concerns that increasing military budgets may come at the expense of social welfare programs.
In a notable policy shift, Macron also directed France’s military leadership to engage in a strategic dialogue with European partners about the future role of France’s nuclear capabilities within the broader European security framework. France, which maintains the EU’s only independent nuclear arsenal, has recently taken steps to deepen nuclear defense cooperation with the United Kingdom.
The announcement comes at a time of renewed transatlantic focus on security. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to make a statement regarding Russia on Monday, and NATO leadership is set to convene in Washington for two days of high-level discussions.
Macron’s speech marks a significant step in France’s evolving defense strategy, highlighting Paris’s ambition to play a leading role in shaping Europe’s security posture amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.