Overview
- Macron used his final annual address to the armed forces on Monday to warn that national 'go‑it‑alone' defence policies are an "absurdity" and to press for deeper European cooperation.
- He said he "deeply regretted" the collapse of the Franco‑German FCAS next‑generation fighter project after months of deadlock between Airbus and Dassault and called that failure a warning against duplicative programmes.
- Macron defended a decade of higher spending, saying France met his pledge to reach 2 percent of GDP by 2025 and that military outlays are set to reach about €64 billion in 2027, roughly double 2017 levels.
- He warned France and its arms makers are not producing fast enough or at sufficient scale for drones, air‑defence systems, missiles and ammunition and urged cross‑border industrial projects like KNDS to expand output.
- The speech comes as Germany sharply raises its defence budget and as Marine Le Pen leads polls ahead of next year’s vote, a political mix that could reshape France’s future ties with NATO and European defence plans.