Macron Urges Military Readiness Amid Global Threats

In a stark address on the eve of Bastille Day, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the urgency of military readiness given escalating threats to freedom and security, declaring a substantial increase in military funding to ensure national defense in an unpredictable world.

In his annual address to military leaders in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron underscored an increasingly perilous global environment, announcing a major enhancement to the nation’s military budget. Addressing armed forces on the brink of Bastille Day, Macron remarked, “Our freedom has never been so threatened,” emphasizing a world where “the law of the strongest that wins” prevails.

He articulated a belief that traditional alliances, particularly with the United States under previous administrations, have become unreliable, signaling a pressing need for Europeans to bolster their own defenses. “You have to be feared in this world. And to be feared you have to be strong,” Macron asserted, calling the current state of American disengagement a pivotal factor in this shift toward self-reliance.

To confront these challenges, he declared an increase in military spending to reach $74.8 billion by 2027, marking a substantial growth as the military budget will expand by €6.5 billion (approximately $7.6 billion) over the next two years. This escalation comes as a response to global security dynamics, where NATO has suggested all member states increase their military expenditures to 5% of national income by 2035.

From a starting point of $37.64 billion when he took office in 2017, the budget is projected to effectively double by the end of Macron’s presidency. However, despite this increase, it currently accounts for only 2% of France's overall economic output, highlighting the ongoing tensions within Europe regarding defense and security as Macron prepares to navigate an uncertain geopolitical landscape.