Speaking at the Eurosatory global defence and arms industry fair in Paris, Macron stressed that the war between Russia and Ukraine has revealed Europe’s vulnerability when it comes to relying on foreign suppliers for weapons and military technology.

“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Spending large sums to buy equipment abroad is not a sustainable strategy. We must build strong domestic capabilities,” Macron said.

Under the plan, France will add an extra €6.5 billion to its defence spending over the next two years €3.5 billion in 2026 and €3 billion in 2027. This will push annual military spending to an expected €64 billion by 2027, double the €32 billion in 2017 when Macron first came to power.

He warned that France is engaged in what he called a “long-term economic war”, with new threats including Russian aggression, terrorism, cyber warfare and online disinformation campaigns.

“To be free in this world, you must be feared,” Macron said, underlining his ambition for France and Europe to become strategically autonomous and less dependent on the United States and other allies.

Before the Ukraine war, France had already started to ramp up military investments, increasing the annual defence budget to €41 billion by 2025. This was set to reach €50 billion by 2027, but Macron’s new plan accelerates that timeline significantly.

The government insists the extra spending will be funded through economic growth and budget reprioritisation, not new borrowing, despite France’s high national debt of about 113% of GDP. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is expected to propose offsetting cuts in other areas to balance the 2026 budget.

The announcement has broad support from conservatives and centrist lawmakers who argue that Europe must be prepared for an uncertain security environment. However, some opposition voices on the left have raised concerns that boosting defence spending could put pressure on funding for social services like health care and education.

Despite this, Macron maintains that investing in defence is now non-negotiable if France and Europe want to maintain their sovereignty and security in an increasingly unstable world.

France President Emmanuel Macron Speaking at the Eurosatory global defence and arms industry fair in Paris