The French military programming law provides for a historical increase in the French defense budget, rising to 76.3 billion euros by 2030. Nuclear weapons, missiles, and drones are becoming the pillars of an increased strategic autonomy strategy.
France plans to allocate an additional 36 billion euros for defense by 2030 as part of updating its 2024-2030 military programming law, focusing on strengthening the nuclear arsenal, missile stocks, and drones.
This increase marks an acceleration compared to the current annual 3 billion euro increase in military spending, reflecting growing security pressures related to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
It also considers the increasing uncertainty regarding U.S. commitments to NATO under President Donald Trump, who threatened to leave the alliance earlier this month.
The updated law for the period 2024-2030 would raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade, compared to about 2% currently.
The budget would reach 76.3 billion euros in 2030, nearly double its 2017 level.
NATO, notably under pressure from Donald Trump, last year raised the target of defense spending as a percentage of the national GDP of member countries to 5% by 2035, up from the current 2%.
“The profound and rapid evolution of international dynamics requires us to move faster and stronger,” said Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin in a statement accompanying the bill that will be presented to Parliament.
“The world’s shift toward sustained and multi-faceted conflict is acknowledged by France,” she added, reiterating statements made at the end of March during the Paris Forum on Defense and Strategy.
One key aspect of the updated military programming law is the strengthening of the French nuclear deterrent, as advocated by President Emmanuel Macron in a speech earlier this month, where he announced an increase in the number of French nuclear warheads.
The law plans to increase the number of nuclear warheads in the French arsenal while maintaining nuclear expenses at about 13% of the overall defense budget, including modernization of maritime and airborne components.
Additional funding of 8.5 billion euros will be allocated to replenish stocks of artillery shells, air defense missiles, and long-range missiles.
Overall, the law envisions significant investments in conventional military capabilities given the perceived shortcomings in NATO’s American partners and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The air and missile defense systems will be a priority, with additional financing to accelerate the delivery of SAMP/T NG systems and enhance capabilities against drones on land, at sea, and around critical infrastructures.
The budget for drones and robotics is set to increase by 2 billion euros from 2026 to 2030, reflecting a 39% increase compared to the initial military programming law, reaching a total of 8.4 billion euros from 2024 to 2030.
The focus is also on reducing Europe’s dependency on the U.S. for military equipment, with plans to develop a sovereign early warning system capable of detecting missile launches by 2035. This system would include ground radars and a European satellite for infrared detection.
(Context: The French government is planning to significantly increase defense spending in response to security concerns and changing international dynamics. Fact Check: The news article describes the implications and details of the planned budget allocation for defense in France.)
