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French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined plans for a big increase in defence spending, warning Europe’s liberty is facing a “greater threat” than at any time since the end of World War Two.<\/p>\n
In a speech to the armed forces in Paris, he said “we are living in a pivotal moment” due to complex geopolitics.<\/p>\n
Macron called for France’s defence spending to rise by \u20ac3.5bn (\u00a33bn) next year and then by a further \u20ac3bn in 2027.<\/p>\n
Referencing the threat from Russia, he denounced “imperialist policies” and “annexing powers”. <\/p>\n
Fighting has raged since Moscow launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Macron pledged to double France’s military budget by 2027, three years earlier than originally planned. <\/p>\n
In 2017, his country’s defence budget stood at \u20ac32bn and under the plans would rise to \u20ac64bn in two years time. The proposals still need to be approved by the French government.<\/p>\n
“To be free in this world, you must be feared. To be feared, you must be powerful,” he said in the speech, which fell on the eve of Bastille Day.<\/p>\n
Macron said the world was witnessing the return of nuclear power and the “proliferation of major conflicts”. <\/p>\n
He also referenced the US bombing of Iran, fighting between India and Pakistan and what he called the “ups and downs in American support for Ukraine”.<\/p>\n
Last month, Nato members<\/a> agreed to commit to spending 5% of GDP annually on defence, up from the previous target of 2%. <\/p>\n The UK also announced its own defence review<\/a>, with Defence Secretary John Healey saying it would send a “message to Moscow”<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Friday, the head of the French army, Thierry Burkhard, said Russia saw France as its “main adversary in Europe”.<\/p>\n Russia posed a “durable” threat to Europe, Burkhard said, adding that the “rank of European countries in tomorrow’s world” was being decided in Ukraine.<\/p>\n France’s Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is expected to outline next year’s budget on Thursday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n