Macron cites greatest threat to freedom, wants defence spending boost

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that freedom in Europe was currently under a greater threat than at any point since the end of World War II, as he called for doubling defence spending by 2027 instead of 2030.

“We are living a pivotal moment,” Macron said in a speech to the armed forces on the eve of the national Bastille Day holiday, denouncing “imperalist policies”, “annexing powers” and the notion that “might is right”.

US HAS ‘ADDED A FORM OF UNCERTAINTY’

Meanwhile, he also mentioned United States for the reasons that were unimaginable in the past, as he tagged Russia and the US together.

He said Europe is in danger because of Russia’s war in Ukraine and wars in the Middle East, and because ″the United States have added a form of uncertainty.″

“Never has peace on our continent depended to such an extent on the decision that we take now,” said Macron.

France faced the challenge “of remaining free and masters of our destiny”, he added.

“If you want to be feared, you must be powerful,” he said, calling for “mobilisation” for national defence by all government departments.

“Everyone must be present at their battle stations,” Macron said.

“We are still ahead, but if we remain at the same speed we will be overtaken tomorrow,” he added.

At the same time, Macron also ordered officials to start a ″strategic dialogue″ with European partners about the role that France’s nuclear arsenal could play in protecting Europe.

The directives came as France and Britain recently agreed to cooperate on nuclear arsenal issues.

DEFENCE SPENDING

That’s why Macron called for French defence spending to be boosted significantly over the next two years, saying Europe faced growing threats.

He said France’s defence budget should rise by 3.5 billion euros ($4.1 billion) in 2026, and then by a further three billion euros in 2027, in a push to “double the military budget by 2027” instead of 2030.

The French president said “an update of the military programming law” for 2024-2030 “will be presented in the fall”.

Meanwhile, Macron also affirmed that he “refuses” that this “new and historic effort” be financed by “debt,” at a time when the government must significantly tighten its budget in an attempt to restore public finances.

However, lawmakers will need to approve such measures.

‘WORSENING INTERNATIONAL THREATS’

On Thursday, the Elysee Palace noted “worsening international threats and said Macron will make “major announcements” in his Bastille Day speech, drawing “conclusions on defence efforts”.

And on Friday, the head of the French army, General Thierry Burkhard, said France was Russia’s “main enemy in Europe”.

Explaining his point, Burkhard said Moscow saw Paris as a primary adversary largely because of to the French support for Ukraine. “It was [Vladimir] Putin who said” this, the general added.