Macron: France to double its defence budget, urges allies to follow

France plans to double its defence budget, said the country's President Emmanuel Macron on February 3.

"France will double its defence budget after the end of two laws on military programs, and will launch major projects. I call on all other partners to do the same," he told journalists, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Macron also added that the top priority is the security of the country's borders. He noted that if France is attacked on trade issues by the US, Europe will have to show respect and respond "appropriately."

Earlier, on January 29, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised to increase the alliance's defence spending after a phone call with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

Prior to that, on January 21, US President Donald Trump said he would push for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP and spend more than Washington to support Ukraine.

By Khagan Isayev