France’s Macron moves to double military budget by 2027
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a strategy to accelerate defence expenditure, committing to double the military budget by 2027.
The decision comes as geopolitical tensions “are happening faster than expected”. This is three years ahead of the initial schedule to double the budget by 2030.
In 2017, the budget for the armed forces stood at €32bn ($37bn).
Addressing leaders of the armed forces on the eve of the Bastille Day national holiday, Macron said: “This new era for the nation requires new budgets for our armed forces. We are consciously undertaking a new and historic effort.”
The President stated that there will be an increase of €3.5bn in 2026 and a further increment of €3bn in 2027.
Consequently, the defence budget will reach €64bn in 2027.
Macron said: “This is double the budget the armed forces had in 2017. This new, historic, and proportionate effort is credible, it is essential, it is just what we need, but really what we need.”
Details on the plans for the 2026 budget are anticipated to be disclosed by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou in a speech scheduled for 15 July 2025.
“In any case, we refuse to allow this rearmament to involve debt. Our military independence is inseparable from our financial independence. It will therefore be financed by more activity and more production. The effort of the entire nation for the defence of all French people,” Macron said, in comments released by the Elysee Palace.
The President also highlighted current global challenges, including the resurgence of “nuclear phenomenon, the proliferation of major conflicts”.
The global nuclear arsenals is not only growing but also undergoing modernisation, according to the ‘SIPRI Yearbook 2025’.
The estimated worldwide count of nuclear warheads as of January 2025 stands at 12,241.
In June 2025, Nato member nations have resolved to allocate 5% of their GDP annually towards defence by at least 2035, a substantial rise from the previous benchmark of 2%.
Following suit, the UK Ministry of Defence accepted the necessity to match this target for national security expenditures.
