France has announced plans to accelerate rearmament, citing what it sees as a growing threat from Russia, under updated military legislation unveiled on Wednesday.
The military spending bill was presented after France’s top commanders said the country must be ready to resist Russia and that NATO should adapt to a faster production of weapons.
The revised defense plan is adding another €36 billion ($42 billion) to France’s military spending between 2024 and 2030, on top of the €413 billion ($482 billion) already allocated, as reported by AFP.
Annual defense spending is set to reach €76.3 billion ($89 billion) in 2030, or about 2.5% of France’s gross domestic product (GDP), up from €57.1 billion ($67 billion) this year.
The bump also includes an additional €8.5 billion ($9.9 billion) for ammunition that brings the total to €26 billion ($30 billion) between 2026-30.
French officials said the plan prioritizes ammunition, missiles and drone stockpiles:
- Remotely operated munitions (e.g., explosive drones): +400%
- SCALP cruise missiles: +85%
- Torpedoes: +230%
- Surface-to-air missiles: +30%
“Our armed forces must be capable of responding to a major engagement within a timeframe that none of us can predict,” French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said following a meeting of top defense and security officials.
France is one of the few European countries pursuing a self-sufficient defense policy, prioritizing domestic production and development to reduce external dependencies, with key programs including the Rafale fighter jets and the joint Italian-French SAMP/T air defense system.
The rearmament push comes as European countries expand defense production capacity while sustaining support for Ukraine and reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank. French officials said the lessons of Russia’s war against Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East have increased the focus on munitions and missile stockpiles.
France remains one of Kyiv’s key European backers, providing military and political support as Ukraine continues to resist Russia’s full-scale invasion, with French President Emmanuel Macron boasting that France has become Kyiv’s main intelligence provider in January.