French President Emmanuel Macron pledged an additional €6.5 billion in defense spending over the next two years, aiming to raise the annual defense budget to €64 billion by 2027.
Speaking ahead of Bastille Day, Macron warned that Europe faces its gravest security threats since 1945, citing Russia, terrorism, cyberattacks, and global instability. “To be free in this world, they must fear us. And for them to fear us, we must be strong,” he said.
He urged the French public to be prepared for sacrifices, stating, “Freedom has a price,” and called for a strategic dialogue on Europe’s defense, including the potential role of France’s nuclear arsenal.