Savings to do everywhere except the armies sector. Emmanuel Macron presented this Sunday the budgetary map for the Défense this Sunday. In “a brighter world” and bass “Russian threat”, the head of state announced this Sunday during his traditional speech to armies they want 3.5 billion euros more for France’s military budget in 2026.
The gesture, which arrives almost 6 months after the return of Donald Trump to the White House, and while François Bayrou must announce this Tuesday 40 billion euros in budget cuts, awakens the anger of the rebel of France.
Very difficult budget options that are advertised
At the moment, the prime minister was careful not to clarify how he had to reduce the state and social security budget. But several clues are in the pipes, from the desindexation of retirement pensions in inflation to the reduction of the number of patients who have access to lasting conditions, including the lack of replacement of one in two officials.
Obviously anxious to justify this budget effort, Emmanuel Macron insisted this Sunday night in this “new and historical effort” that should not be funded by “debt.”
Will this fair effort be judged by the French and the deputies when studying the state budget next autumn? Then the question arises that Paris has already significantly increased its military spending in recent years.
France’s defense budget has already passed between 2017 and 2025 from 32.2 to 50.5 billion euros. Emmanuel Macron also announced this Sunday night that he had 3 billion additional euros in 2027. Very specifically, the budget of the armies will almost have doubled in 10 years since he came to power.
Respond to Donald Trump’s “mandates”
The maneuver awakens the discomfort of rebel France that laments “the exercise of self -sufficient” of the Head of State, just two years after the vote of the Military Programming Law. This text allowed an additional effort of 295 billion euros until 2025.
“An update” of this text that provides 413 billion euros in the 2024-2030 period “in autumn”, explained the head of state. Which awakens the anger of the rebel people who see it as a gift made to Donald Trump.
Given the pressure of Donald Trump, who had threatened to leave NATO without the budgetary efforts of its members, European countries whose France agreed to significantly increase its military budget.
Satisfaction of the US president
Emmanuel Macron supported the increase in French budget expenses to bring them to 3.5% of French GDP at the end of June from the Haye Summit. They currently culminate 2% in France. “It’s a great victory for everyone,” said the US president calmly.
If François Bayrou manages to adopt in the 2026 budget, the 3.5 billion euros were waiting for the 3 billion more in 2027, military spending for France will increase to 2.7% of its GDP at the end of its term of five years, according to BFMTV calculations.
The NATO general secretary, Mark Rutte, had recognized during the Hague Summit to “spend more for defense means spending less on other priorities,” calling “a small fraction” in less social expenses to achieve this.
Source: BFM TV
