France will increase its military spending by an additional €6.5 billion over the next two years amid rising global threats. French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Sunday.
Speaking in his traditional Bastille Day address to military leaders at the Hotel de Brienne in Paris, Macron said France aims to reach an annual defence budget of €64 billion by 2027 — double the €32 billion spent annually in 2017 when he first took office.
Calling the increase a “new and historic effort,” Macron said it is “proportionate, credible and essential” to meet today’s security challenges.
The president urged intensified efforts to protect Europe, citing threats including Russia’s war in Ukraine, terrorism, online attacks, and misinformation campaigns targeting young people.
“Since 1945, freedom has never been so threatened, and never so seriously,” Macron said. “To be free in this world we must be feared. To be feared we must be powerful.”
Despite efforts to reduce public debt, Macron insisted France can find the resources to boost defence spending. The plan has support from conservative and far-right parties, while some on the left criticise it for risking social welfare gains.
Macron also ordered France’s military and defence officials to begin a “strategic dialogue” with European partners on the role of France’s nuclear arsenal in Europe’s security. France recently agreed with Britain to strengthen cooperation on nuclear issues amid growing Russian threats.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday he was prepared to hold elections within three months if the U.S. and Kyiv's other allies coul...
Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia extended into a third day on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump said he would make a phone call to stop t...
Australia on Wednesday became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's Y...
A group of demonstrators gathered outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute to protest the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize....
A group of demonstrators gathered outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute to protest the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, outlined the country’s energy and gas sector developments at the 15th Türkiye Energy Summit in Istanbul.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on their recent peace deal which he said opened an "historic opportunity" for the region.
The United States Senate is set to vote on Thursday (11 December) on a Republican-backed plan aimed at addressing expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced on Tuesday.
Authorities in Japan lifted all tsunami warnings on Tuesday following a strong 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck off the northeastern coast late on Monday, injuring at least 30 people and forcing around 90,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
Pressure is mounting between Venezuela and the United States as both nations emphasise military preparedness and strategic positioning.
A group of demonstrators gathered outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute to protest the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Tehran has protested to Washington because of the travel ban on its football team delegation as well as Iranian fans who would like to travel to the United States for the upcoming World Cup matches in 2026.
Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) has launched a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O). The escalation follows a high-stakes battle that had appeared to end last week when Netflix secured a $72 billion deal for the studio giant’s assets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday he was prepared to hold elections within three months if the U.S. and Kyiv's other allies could ensure the security of the vote.
Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia extended into a third day on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump said he would make a phone call to stop the conflict, after he had brokered a ceasefire in July to end a five-day battle between the Asian neighbours.
Australia on Wednesday became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook.
A group of demonstrators gathered outside the Norwegian Nobel Institute to protest the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on their recent peace deal which he said opened an "historic opportunity" for the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment