The French government on Tuesday approved a key budget bill presented as the country鈥檚 biggest military spending spree in more than 50 years, underscoring the impact of Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine.
The bill foresees 413 billion euros ($450 billion) in military spending or the period covering 2024-2030 - up by more than a third relative to the previous timeframe.
Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said bill鈥檚 political, budgetary, military and technological drive is comparable to the huge push in the 1960s that saw France develop nuclear weapons, making the country one of the world鈥檚 major military powers.
Championed by French President Emmanuel Macron, the bill would notably modernize France鈥檚 nuclear arsenal, boost intelligence spending by 60%, double the number of military reservists, reinforce cyberdefense and develop more remote-controlled weapons.
It would also boost the arms industry鈥檚 production capacity in order to provide assistance to Ukraine and adequately supply the French military.
鈥淎n issue we unfortunately rediscovered with the war in Ukraine is the issue of the ammunition stocks 鈥� We will need a ten-year period of time to upgrade all infrastructures and equipment of our military,鈥� Lecornu said.
Lecornu also pointed to the need for anti-drone technology and equipment as being at the heart of the government鈥檚 concerns ahead of the Paris Olympics next year and other major events. He warned against a 鈥渢errorist threat鈥� but also the potential 鈥渕isuse鈥� of small, civilian drones.
The budget bill will be debated in parliament in May-June with the aim of entering into force by mid-July, Lecornu said.
Macron鈥檚 centrist alliance doesn鈥檛 have a majority in either house of parliament, but military officers have long lamented shrinking armed forces spending, while conservative and far-right parties tend to support investment in defense.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
