“I want to reiterate to you my determination, my gratitude and my pride in being at your side since 2017. This is my greatest pride. » This Monday, July 13, Emmanuel Macron almost gave the feeling of starting a farewell tour, a few months before the end of his second term. From the Hôtel de Brienne, headquarters of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the head of state defended his results, highlighting in particular the increase in military credits.
“In 2017, I announced to you that the defense budget would be increased, that commitments would be kept and that France and its armies would live up to their duties and responsibilities (…). The commitment was kept, the facts are there and history will judge”he declared, on the eve of his last July 14 as president. He recalled having fixed “a clear objective” : to carry defense effort at 2% of GDP from 2025. “I made a solemn commitment here (…). The commitment was kept and we did well”insisted Emmanuel Macron, who adopted the military programming law 2024-2030 endowed with 410 billion euros.
The Head of State then recalled that“an additional effort of 36 billion euros” would be carried out over the period 2026-2030. This new march has three main priorities: “Increasing our ammunition stocks and strengthening operational readiness; then, additional means to guarantee our sovereignty; finally, the enhancement of our nuclear deterrence, in line with the strategic shift that we announced last March, with the establishment of the advanced deterrence ». A term which consists of extending French strategic reasoning beyond the strict national territory.
Looking back on his action, Emmanuel Macron defended his defense strategy initiated well before the start of the wars which punctuate our current period. “Even before the Sahel descended into chaos, even before the Near and Middle East burst into flames, even before the war arrived on European soil, we had begun our rearmament”recalled the President of the Republic. However, he felt that this effort needed to be further amplified. “We have launched the war economy, but is it enough? No “he admitted, after recalling the measures taken since the start of the war in Ukraine to accelerate production by defense manufacturers.
“At the price of blood if necessary”
The head of the executive also linked French rearmament to the support given toUkraine. “ We understand the necessity of this efforthe declared, to take the necessary decisions and continue to support kyiv, which defends its territory, its sovereignty, its freedom and, consequently, our security in Europe “. This declaration comes as the summit of the coalition of the willing is being held this Monday at Les Invalides in order to increase “ support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia », before a dinner at the Élysée bringing together several leaders, according to the presidency.
In this context, Emmanuel Macron affirmed that France and the Europeans were ready to defend “ freedom and law » at all costs. “Europe is becoming a power (…). The message we are sending to the world is: yes, peace is our goal; yes, we cherish freedom and right; and yes, we stand ready to fight to always defend them, and at the cost of blood if necessary”he insisted in front of the highest military officials, evoking “ the blood price paid by our French soldiers, dead for France, wounded in their flesh or in their soul “.
Charge against “the absurdity of nationalism”
On the industrial level, Emmanuel Macron called for continuing major European defense projects and not giving in to “ the absurdity ” of “ nationalism “, despite thefailure of Scafwhich he said “deeply regret”. A leading figure in European military cooperation, this Franco-German combat aircraft program, abandoned last June, should not, according to him, call into question the common ambition. The Head of State thus cited several priority projects: the Bromo project for satellites, the SAMP/T ground-to-air defense system, the Jewel early warning program, the KNDS battle tank and even deep strike capabilities, an area where Europe remains very dependent on the United States.
He also called for accelerating the production of drones, interceptors, missiles and munitions: “We are not producing fast enough, we are not producing hard enough and we have to adapt for our own needs. » Finally, the president warned against any temptation to withdraw nationally. “Patriotism, yes; nationalism, never. At a time when Europe is rearming, it is absurd to think that accumulating capabilities each separately is the meaning of history.he said, a few months before the 2027 presidential election. Before concluding: “We must build as Europeans, while retaining our specificities, our decision-making methods, our intervention forces and our credibility. But let’s not make the story stutter. »
