Macron Reaffirms France's Readiness to Defend Freedom and Law

Paris – 13 July 2026: President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s readiness to defend freedom, the rule of law and the interests of its allies, if necessary through military action. In his traditional address to the armed forces at the Hotel de Brienne, one day before the military parade for the national holiday, he placed Europe’s ability to act in the field of defense at the center of his remarks.

Macron said that peace remained France’s political objective. At the same time, a state that wished to protect its freedom and the international legal order had to maintain credible military capabilities. His statement that France was prepared to do so, if necessary at the cost of sacrifice, explicitly referred to the soldiers who have died or been injured for the country.

The president coupled this message with an appeal to European partners to pursue joint defense industrial projects more decisively. In his view, joint procurement, coordinated production and European technological capabilities should reduce dependence on suppliers outside Europe. In doing so, Macron reaffirmed the French position that Europe’s strategic autonomy should complement, rather than replace, NATO.

The economic dimension is significant. Since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, European countries have increased their defense spending while also seeking ways to overcome shortages in ammunition, air defense, satellite technology and electronic reconnaissance. France points to its own industrial offerings, including the SAMP/T air defense system, Rafale fighter jets, missiles and radar technology.

Macron had already announced additional French defense spending last year. The military budget is expected to rise to 64 billion euros by 2027, up from 32 billion euros in 2017. The president justified this doubling by citing the deteriorating security environment and the need for larger stockpiles and faster production.

The speech came at a time when Paris is placing greater emphasis on its role in Europe’s security architecture. France is the only member of the European Union with its own nuclear weapons and is also seeking to strengthen NATO’s European pillar. Macron had also proposed a strategic dialogue with interested European partners on the contribution of French nuclear deterrence to Europe’s security.

Politically, the president is pursuing two goals: France should remain militarily sovereign, while European cooperation strengthens the industrial base and operational capability of its allies. The choice of words on the eve of July 14 underscores that the government no longer regards defense solely as a specialist policy area, but as a long-term task for the state, industry and society.