Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled on Sunday to establish new French defense goals amid concerns over a threatening Russia and the possibility of the United States withdrawing from Europe, according to the Elysee Palace.
Elysee officials said that “Defence efforts” must be prioritized amid increasing threats and a collapsing world order, ahead of the president’s speech to the armed forces, which is traditionally held on the eve of France’s national Bastille Day holiday. Elysee officials indicated that Macron is likely to propose a possible initiative to mobilize young people, offering them “an opportunity to serve”.
Although France faces a challenging budgetary situation, officials stated that the president’s upcoming announcements will be significant. Several NATO nations are increasing their military budgets following last month’s agreement among alliance members to allocate five percent of their GDP to security.
Why is Russia seen as France’s main threat?
French military and security officials have warned of global threats to France, with Defence Chief Thierry Burkhard stating on Friday that Russia remains a “durable” threat to Europe. He also emphasized that the future standing of European countries is being shaped in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022. Burkhard stated that Russia presently considers France its “main adversary in Europe”.
He also cautioned about the consequences of reduced US engagement in Europe, as well as threats from cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and potential terror attacks.
“We have to take account of the fact that there has been a change in strategic parameters,”
he said.
On Sunday, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that
“it’s our job to provide answers.”
He stated that France must make “a new effort” if it wishes to “depend on nobody” in the future.
What are the main defence priorities outlined by Lecornu?
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who will present his 2026 budget plan on Tuesday, has stated that the defence budget is “sacrosanct” and protected from any budget cuts.
Lecornu outlined this month the top priorities for the French armed forces, such as ground-to-air defenses, ammunition, electronic warfare, and space capabilities. During Sunday’s interview, he expressed concern that France is mainly worried about lagging behind in “disruptive technologies” like artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
What could higher military spending mean for France’s debt?
France’s defence budget has significantly grown since Macron became president, increasing from 32.2 billion euros in 2017 to 50.5 billion euros today, with projections reaching 67 billion euros by 2030.
Any significant increase in defense spending could, however, jeopardize France’s efforts to lower deficits and reduce its debt burden, especially as the EU Commission pressures Paris to adopt stricter fiscal discipline.
In 2025, France’s defense spending increased to €47.2 billion, a record for its defense budget, which was a 7.4% increase from 2024. The budget correlates to roughly 2.06% of France’s GDP based on 2023 stats, though President Emmanuel Macron expressed an ambition to increase defense spending to 3-3.5% of GDP in the future in relation to NATO’s evolving goals.
President Macron’s plan will require an annual increase of an additional €30 billion in yearly defense spending to reach 3-3.5% of GDP. However, he faces an uphill battle as France has a relatively high national debt and a related budget deficit. He needs to balance political pressure to maintain fiscal responsibility with the need to increase military capabilities in light of heightened geopolitical tensions.
