Macron announces France to accelerate the increase in defense spending
In his traditional speech to the military on the eve of the National Day, Macron said, "To gain freedom in this world, one must be feared. To be feared, we must be strong."
French President Macron announced on Sunday (July 13) that France will increase its defense spending in the next two weeks to address growing threats.
In his traditional speech to the military on the eve of the National Day, Macron stated, "Since 1945, freedom has never been so threatened, nor so seriously."
Macron pointed out that by 2027, France's annual defense spending will increase to 64 billion euros - a figure that is almost twice the 32 billion euros he had when he took office in 2017. France had originally planned to reach this target by 2030.
He also announced an additional allocation of 3.5 billion euros in 2026, and another 3 billion euros in 2027, which is the last year of his second term,
"To gain freedom in this world, one must be feared. To be feared, we must be strong," Macron said.
He also added, "The peace of our continent has never been so dependent on the decisions we make today."
Macron stated that Europe faces danger, not only because of Russia's war in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East, but also because "the United States brings a certain uncertainty." He also warned that Europe faces threats from cyber attacks and disinformation.
Macron added that French Prime Minister François Bayrou will further elaborate on the specific details of the 2026 budget in his speech on Tuesday.
Source: DW
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837627381096777/
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