French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech to Paris on the eve of the annual Bastille Day parade held in the French capital on July 13, 2025.
Ludovic Marin | AFP | Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans on Sunday for a substantial increase in defense spending in the coming years, warning of imminent threats to France and the wider European security.
“Liberty has never been so threatened and has never been so serious since 1945.” Macron addressed the leaders of the armed forces on the eve of the national holiday in Bastille.
“To be free in this world, you have to worry. To be afraid, you have to be strong,” he said. In a comment posted by Elysee Palace. Macron believes that the ongoing wars in Russia, Ukraine, cybercrime and terrorism are threats to national and European freedoms.
Macron called for an increase of 3.5 billion euros ($4.09 billion) in defense spending next year and another 3 billion euros in 2027. This would bring the total amount spent on guarantees to €64 billion that year, which would allow French armed forces to obtain a defense budget in 2017, the first time that Markron has served as president.
French lawmakers must approve the improvement before it can be formulated. The French Parliament is the National Assembly, which has been quarrels for months in the wider 2025 national budget and cost savings, Due to the debate over the last government collapse at the end of last year.
France is trying to control its yawning budget deficit, It reaches 5.8% in 2024during which time, public debt accounts for 113% of GDP.
Macron said more details about the plan will be announced by Francois Bayrou on Tuesday, when he made the latest news on the 2026 budget. More “sustainment” measures, or tax rate hikes, could be revealed at the time, and this would be unpopular.
On Sunday, Macron called on his countrymen to work for the greater good.
“This country needs you,” Macron said, adding: “Every French man and woman must recognize the threats around us, adding: “We all need to make sacrifices.” Free price tag. ”
The price tag may be too high to be accepted by lawmakers, especially those who have already opposed spending cuts. Savings are needed to reduce budget deficits, with the government targeting this year at 5.4% and 4.6% in 2026.
Treasury Secretary Eric Lombard said in April that reaching the 2026 target means finding 40 billion euros ($46 billion) in savings this year.
Lombard In a comment translated by Reuters.
“We are in a state of emergency regarding our budget,” he added.
