Driven by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and escalating global tensions, France's parliament has greenlit a substantial increase in military expenditure for the remainder of the decade. This multi-billion-euro investment, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, represents the nation's most significant military spending surge in fifty years, totaling approximately $450 billion.
The funding aims to modernize France's nuclear capabilities, bolster intelligence operations, and develop advanced remote-controlled weaponry. President Macron has emphasized the necessity of this investment to safeguard France's freedom, security, prosperity, and global standing. This initiative has been likened to France's 1960s push for nuclear development, a period that solidified the country's position as a major military power.
The comprehensive military plan also encompasses a two-fold increase in military reservists, strengthened cyberdefense measures, and a boost in weapons production. This increased production capacity is intended to support Ukraine while ensuring the French military maintains adequate supplies.
Image: French troops conducting a joint exercise with the US in Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The newly approved budget for 2024-2030 surpasses the previous military spending plan (2019-2025) by over a third, marking a significant increase from 295 billion euros. The bill received overwhelming support in both the National Assembly and the Senate, highlighting a broad consensus on the importance of defense investment.
While Macron's centrist alliance lacks a majority in either parliamentary chamber, the military's longstanding concerns about dwindling resources, coupled with support from conservative and far-right factions for defense spending, facilitated the bill's passage. President Macron is scheduled to address defense officials, coinciding with the Bastille Day celebrations, which traditionally feature a prominent military parade in Paris showcasing troops, aircraft, and military hardware.
