Macron: Europe’s Freedom At Risk Like Never Before Since WWII

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled an ambitious plan to bolster the country’s defence budget, warning that Europe is confronting its most severe security threat since the Second World War.

Speaking to military personnel in Paris, Macron described the current geopolitical landscape as a decisive turning point. He proposed raising France’s defence budget by €3.5 billion (£3 billion) next year, with an additional €3 billion increase projected for 2027.

Citing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, Macron condemned what he termed Moscow’s imperial ambitions and disregard for international borders. He warned that such aggressive posturing from annexationist powers has fundamentally shaken Europe’s security architecture.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has continued to fuel instability across the continent.

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to accelerate plans to double the nation’s military budget by 2027 — three years ahead of the original timeline — as he seeks to fortify France’s global defence posture.

Delivering a speech in Paris on the eve of Bastille Day, Macron outlined that defence spending, which stood at €32 billion in 2017, would surge to €64 billion within the next two years. The proposal still awaits parliamentary approval.

He underscored that in an increasingly unstable world, power remains central to securing freedom, declaring that “to be free, you must be feared – and to be feared, you must be strong”.

Warning of a dramatic geopolitical shift, Macron pointed to the resurgence of nuclear threats and a surge in high-intensity conflicts worldwide. He cited recent US airstrikes on Iran, continued hostilities between India and Pakistan, and what he described as Washington’s wavering commitment to Ukraine’s defence.

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Macron’s forceful address comes amid mounting pressure on European leaders to redefine their security strategies in the face of expanding global tensions.

In a marked shift in European defence policy, NATO members last month endorsed a significant increase in military spending, setting a new annual target of 5% of GDP — more than double the previous 2% benchmark.

Britain has also launched its own comprehensive defence review, with Defence Secretary John Healey emphasising that the move was designed to send a clear signal of deterrence to Moscow.

The French military leadership has similarly adopted a heightened stance. General Thierry Burkhard, head of the French army, recently described Russia as France’s principal adversary in Europe, warning that the threat posed by Moscow was not only serious but enduring.

According to Burkhard, the ongoing war in Ukraine is shaping the future standing of European nations on the world stage, underscoring the urgency of bolstering continental security frameworks.

Meanwhile, attention in France is turning towards fiscal planning, with Prime Minister Francois Bayrou set to unveil the government’s budget for next year on Thursday.

Africa Today News, New York