French defence minister pushes for increase of military budget

France's defense minister emphasized the need to increase military spending in 2025 to ensure national security, warning that failing to do so could threaten the country's defense capabilities. 

Minister Sébastien Lecornu gave an exclusive interview to the French Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, which the publication characterized as "the first time" that the minister "freed" himself from his status as "collaborator" to President Emmanuel Macron in order to look to the future. In it, he pointed out that France's defense budget has already steadily risen by approximately €3 billion annually since 2017, reaching €47.2 billion in 2024. 

Lecornu stated that the military budget must increase by another €3.3 billion to €50.5 billion in 2025 to avoid compromising military rearmament and national security. 

However, the 2025 budget has not yet been approved, with the draft financial law facing significant criticism in the National Assembly, resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in December 2024. While a new draft is expected by the end of winter, public finances are governed by a special law in the meantime, reflecting the 2024 budget's key parameters.

By Nazrin Sadigova