French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday (July 13th) that France will allocate an additional 65 billion euros (approximately 76 billion USD) to its military budget within the next two years. He described this as an “urgent and necessary” effort to address significant security threats, including from Russia. This decision will bring France’s defense budget to 640 billion euros by 2027, doubling the amount from when he took office in 2017.
Macron emphasized the unprecedented nature of the threats to freedom, stating, “Since 1945, freedom has never faced such severe threats.” He highlighted the realities of nuclear threats and escalating conflicts, stressing the importance for France to maintain the ability to “be free and determine its own fate” in this critical moment in history. Macron underscored that to possess freedom in the world, one must instill fear and to create fear, one must be strong.
He accused Russia of pursuing “imperialist policies,” engaging in annexation actions, and promoting the concept of “might makes right.” Macron noted that France’s defense budget has gradually increased from 322 billion euros in 2017, reaching 505 billion euros currently, with a projection to reach 670 billion euros by 2030. The additional 65 billion euros budget allocation will elevate the annual expenditure to 640 billion euros by 2027, fulfilling the commitment of doubling military expenses.
While the original plan aimed to double the defense budget by 2030, Macron announced that it will be accomplished by 2027. This additional expenditure represents approximately 6% of the total defense budget for 2026 and 2027.
Macron described this investment as a “new, historic, moderate, and indispensable effort,” stating it is essential given the current global circumstances. He also emphasized the importance of France’s nuclear arsenal for European security, initiating strategic dialogues with European partners to discuss the role of French nuclear weapons in collective defense and announcing unprecedented cooperation with the UK in nuclear defense.
France presently maintains one of the most comprehensive military systems in Europe, including nuclear weapons deployable by submarines and aircraft, constituting about 13% of the total defense budget. Additionally, France operates an aircraft carrier and has around 200,000 active-duty military personnel.
French military and security agencies have issued warnings recently. Chief of Staff Thierry Burkhard highlighted Russia’s “persistent threat” to Europe, stating that the position of European countries in the future world is being determined on the battlefield in Ukraine. He cautioned that Moscow currently views France as a “major enemy in Europe.”
Burkhard pointed out that Russian military forces are conducting interference and reconnaissance activities through satellite disruptions, damaging underwater infrastructure, launching disinformation campaigns in France and Africa. Furthermore, Russian attack submarines have been navigating deep into the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with Russian military aircraft frequently interacting with other aircraft in the Black Sea, Syria, the Mediterranean, and the North Atlantic airspace.
Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu also warned that France not only faces traditional military threats but is also in a new strategic environment where it confronts intertwined risks of cyberattacks, disinformation, and terrorism.
Lecornu emphasized that if France wishes to be independent in the future, it must exert new efforts to do so. While prioritizing defense, France is grappling with significant financial pressures.
Macron rejected raising additional debt for military funding but stressed that the defense budget should not be subject to cuts. Prime Minister François Bayrou will present the 2026 budget proposal, emphasizing that military expenses are a “sacred and inviolable” area not to be reduced.
According to Eurostat, by the end of 2024, France’s debt amounted to 113% of its GDP, following Greece and Italy. Just for servicing the debt interest this year, the French finance department needs to pay 62 billion euros.
To reduce the significant budget deficit, the Macron government is preparing a plan to cut spending and increase taxes by up to 40 billion euros. Macron has warned that everyone must endure these challenging times. With a parliamentary majority lacking, this budget plan may still be overturned.
However, most opposition parties have supported increasing military spending in recent years and are expected to do so in this instance as well. Under NATO’s collective pressure, European countries are accelerating their military spending increases.
NATO member states recently reached a consensus to raise the core defense spending target from the original 2% of GDP to 3.5%. About three-quarters of NATO’s 32 member countries have already met the previous target, including France. Despite financial pressures, achieving the new NATO target poses significant challenges for France.
Macron advocates for the EU to initiate joint debt issuance to enhance regional defense. However, many member states, including Germany, remain cautious about this proposal. Germany’s debt-to-GDP ratio is only 62.5%, lower than France’s, providing the capacity to independently raise debt for expanding military expenses.