France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to army leaders, on the eve of the annual Bastille Day Parade in the French capital, at l'Hotel de Brienne in Paris, France, Sunday 13 July 2025;
Credit: Reuters, Ludovic Marin
PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday 13 July 2025, announced a plan to push forward France's defence spending, pledging to double the military budget by 2027 - three years earlier than originally planned - in response to a complex geopolitical moment.
France had aimed to double its defence budget from 2017 levels by 2030. However, Macron pledged to reach the target by 2027. A military budget that stood at €32 billion in 2017 will rise to €64 billion by 2027, with an additional €3.5 billion allocated for next year and another €3 billion in 2027.
He said the accelerated spending, which comes as France is struggling to make €40 billion in savings in its 2026 budget, would be paid for by increased economic activity.
"Our military independence is inseparable from our financial independence," he said. "This will be financed through more activity and more production."
He said Prime Minister Francois Bayrou would provide more details in an address on his plans for the 2026 budget on Tuesday. Bayrou is facing an uphill battle to steer billions of euros worth of savings through a bitterly divided parliament, as France strives to lower its budget deficit to keep EU bean-counters and foreign investors at bay.
