France Plans to Double Defense Budget

France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced his country’s intention to double its defense budget, speaking on the sidelines of an informal EU leaders’ summit in Brussels.

The meeting, convened in response to growing global security threats, focused on the Ukraine crisis, cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, and escalating tensions in the Middle East.

EU leaders discussed ways to enhance European defense capabilities and increase military spending to confront these emerging challenges.

A high-ranking EU official emphasized that the summit provided an opportunity to explore strategies for bolstering European defense and securing financial backing for military expansion.

The discussion centered on developing European military capabilities and allocating resources to strengthen regional security.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu previously stated at a NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels that France is committed to meeting NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target for 2024.

France, which had already pledged to double its military budget by 2030 compared to 2019, has now reaffirmed that it will reach the 2% goal by 2025.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister François Bayrou signaled potential political turmoil, stating on Sunday that he may bypass parliament to approve the 2025 budget if a consensus with the National Assembly majority cannot be reached.