Ben Amed Azize Zougmore

French Minister Delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, has called for a strengthening of European defense capabilities following a visit to the MBDA group site, a major player in the defense industry in Europe.

In a message posted on Thursday on platform X, the minister highlighted the strategic role of the company, emphasizing that its missile systems contribute to the security of the European Union and to enhancing the resilience of Ukraine.

This visit took place in the presence of French Minister Delegate to the Armed Forces and Veterans, Alice Rufo, and Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defense and Space, against a backdrop of increasing security challenges in the European continent.

Emphasizing the need for greater strategic autonomy, Benjamin Haddad stated, “Europe must assume its own defense,” advocating for increased European funding, a strengthening of industrial capabilities, and the establishment of a clear European preference in armament policies.

The minister also discussed the SAFE program, specifying that 15.09 billion euros allocated to France will finance strategic capabilities, particularly in the field of missile systems.

These statements come at a time when European countries are intensifying their efforts to consolidate their defense industrial and technological base, in an international environment marked by the war in Ukraine and persistent geopolitical tensions.