Media: Political crisis in France delays key defence projects

The ongoing political crisis in France is casting a shadow over the country’s defence plans, as the military budget remains stalled until a new government is formed.

On December 11, the Council of Ministers approved a special law to extend the 2024 budget into 2025, a measure designed to prevent a government shutdown akin to the one seen in the US, Caliber.Az reports via Politico.

However, this law cannot be amended by lawmakers, putting a €3.3 billion boost to defence spending on hold.

As part of a long-term military planning law, the increase had been earmarked for modernizing France’s armed forces, but it is now delayed indefinitely. Furthermore, the law imposes restrictions on the armed forces ministry, preventing it from hiring new staff or launching new programmes until a new 2025 budget is approved by parliament.

Hélène Conway-Mouret, a Socialist senator and co-author of a report on France’s 2025 defence budget, expressed concern: “The military is worried, and that’s normal. Everyone is in a bit of a wait-and-see mode. We need to make sure that the political consensus that emerged in 2024 to increase defence spending continues.” Conway-Mouret also cautioned that even with the €3.3 billion boost, the military planning law is not ambitious enough.

Although France will meet NATO’s target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defence this year, plans for further increases were intended to modernize the country’s military amidst rising global tensions. French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned that delays in the budget could push back key projects, including the acquisition of a next-generation aircraft carrier and the hiring of 700 new staff, particularly in critical areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Additional military purchases scheduled for next year include a frigate, mine-sweepers, the upgrade of 120 light-armoured vehicles, and a significant number of missiles. However, within the Ministry of Armed Forces, officials admit that delays are now inevitable. One anonymous industry official remarked that, while nuclear deterrence would remain a priority, conventional weapons spending is likely to face the largest cuts.

“The question is: How long will this last?” the industry official asked. “The longer this goes on, the more serious the consequences are going to be. We have a somewhat fragile defence industrial base.” There are concerns that prolonged uncertainty could strain relations with defence contractors, who have been encouraged by the state to ramp up production in anticipation of government orders. If the orders are then delayed or cancelled, this could have significant ramifications.

While President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to appoint a new prime minister, the National Assembly remains deeply divided, and it is unclear when the political crisis will be resolved. As one high-ranking military official put it, “We’re like everyone else. We’re waiting.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev