France and the European Union have entered into “a war economy in which (…) we are going to have to organize ourselves for a long time”, Emmanuel Macron said Monday, June 13 at Eurosatory, the largest international exhibition for land and air defense and security. In this context, “I asked the Minister [des armées] and to the Chief of Defense Staff to be able to carry out a reassessment of this military programming law in the light of the geopolitical context”, including the war in Ukraine, he announced. The president did not specify whether he intended to increase the defense budget more than expected or whether it was a question of reviewing priorities.
He also called for the strengthening of the European defense industry which must be “much stronger” given the increased military needs with the war in Ukraine. “Spending a lot to buy elsewhere is not a good idea. (…) We need to strengthen a much stronger and much more demanding European defense industry and industrial and technological base”, he estimated, while many European countries have announced their desire to increase their defense budget. Other, “we will build the outbuildings of tomorrow”he warned, reiterating a call already launched upon his arrival at the Elysée in 2017.
Fifty billion budget for defense by 2025
Emmanuel Macron began in 2017 a sharp rise in defense credits after years of scarcity. The budget of the Ministry of the Armed Forces will increase again in 2022, to 40.9 billion euros, in accordance with the 2019-2025 military programming law which plans to reach 50 billion euros in 2025. “We did not wait for strategic changes to reinvest”, recalled the Head of State. But the rise in threats, illustrated by the conflict that has been raging in Ukraine since February 24, poses a “additional requirement to go faster, stronger, at the lowest cost”.
“We still have a lot to do to adapt to the profound transformations that we are going through. And, for anyone who doubts the urgency of these efforts, it suffices to look once again to Ukraine, whose soldiers are demanding quality armament and who are entitled to an answer there too from us.insisted Mr. Macron. “We will make the investment decisions and we will have the requirements that go with it”he concluded.
Requisition materials or civilian enterprises
Many of the ongoing armament program cooperations in Europe are slipping, starting with the projects for the future aircraft (Scaf) and the future combat tank (MGCS) led by France and Germany. “Let’s build this base of sovereignty, of European independence, French if we can – with partnerships that I want throughout the world, and I see a lot of non-Europeans here (…) I like to build the partnerships that I choose, I like less the dependencies that we have massively and methodically sometimes prepared”added Emmanuel Macron.
According to information from World, the Directorate General for Armaments is also considering proposing a legislative text that would make it possible to requisition, in certain circumstances, materials or civilian companies for military purposes. Most defense companies being “duals”that is to say producing also for civilian needs, this text, inspired by American legislation, would allow them to mobilize their efforts towards military production, without France being formally in a state of war.