France's military budget to increase to $55Bln in 2025

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Oct 2024 09:20
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Despite funding reductions, France is expected to increase its defense budget spending.

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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Ukrainian soldiers in a military camp in eastern France, on October 9, 2024. (AP)

The French Defense Ministry's budget is expected to rise by more than 3 billion euros to 50.5 billion euros ($55.2 billion) in 2025, as indicated in the government's budget proposal for next year, despite significant overall spending reductions.

A text of the bill presented at the Council of Ministers on Thursday stated, "As in the previous year, the armed forces budget should increase by 3.3 billion euros, reaching 50.5 billion euros, or 2% of GDP."

That said, the Defense Ministry's budget, which was 32 billion euros in 2017, is projected to rise to 67.4 billion euros by 2030, according to two consecutive laws aimed at increasing defense funding in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that next year will be crucial for the rearmament of the French army, with 10.6 billion euros allocated for this purpose, marking a 16% increase.

The budget for enhancing the country's nuclear capabilities will grow by 8%, reaching 7 billion euros, while 16 billion euros will be designated for ammunition manufacturing.

Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron stated on January 20 that military spending in France is to reach $433 billion in the 2024-2030 cycle, noting that the new spending budget marked an increase of $113 billion increase from $320 billion in the 2019-2025 cycle.

At an address to the army at the Mont-de-Marsan air base, Macron noted, "The law on military programming (LPM) for 2024-2030 reflects the efforts made by the state to strengthen its army. They are proportionate to current dangers, which are significant. In 2024-2030, the government will allocate 400 billion euros ($433 billion) to the defense ministry."

The budget increase, the French president argued, came against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. He explained that the French military must "reform and transform" if it is to be able to operate both within NATO and independently.