France\u2019s defence chief says Russia now views France as its \u201cmain adversary in Europe\u201d amid rising security tensions
\nNews Agency
\nParis
\nFrench President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce major new defence targets on Sunday, citing heightened security threats from Russia and growing uncertainty over US support for Europe\u2019s defence.
\n\u00c9lys\u00e9e officials said that despite France\u2019s budgetary constraints, Macron\u2019s address would include \u201cmajor\u201d announcements. They described the move as part of broader \u201cdefence efforts\u201d in response to an increasingly unstable global environment. \u201cDefence efforts must be made in the face of mounting threats and a disintegrating world order,\u201d a senior presidential aide said.
\nThe announcement follows growing concerns within France\u2019s defence establishment over what it views as a \u201cdurable\u201d threat posed by Russia and the potential weakening of the United States\u2019 commitment to European security.
\nSpeaking on Friday, General Thierry Burkhard, France\u2019s Chief of Defence Staff, warned that Russia now sees France as its \u201cmain adversary in Europe\u201d.
\n\u201cThe rank of European countries in tomorrow\u2019s world is being decided in Ukraine,\u201d Burkhard said, referring to Russia\u2019s invasion of its neighbour in 2022.
\nHe also highlighted the emerging risks of cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and terrorism.
\nOn Sunday, Defence Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu told La Tribune that France must do more to ensure it can act independently.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s our job to provide answers,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we want to depend on nobody tomorrow, we need to make a new effort.\u201d
\nSince Macron took office in 2017, France\u2019s defence budget has grown significantly\u2014from \u20ac32.2 billion to \u20ac50.5 billion today. The government plans to raise it further to \u20ac67 billion by 2030.
\nHowever, the proposed increases come amid pressure from the European Commission for greater fiscal discipline. France\u2019s debt servicing alone is expected to cost \u20ac62 billion this year.
\nDespite that, Prime Minister Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou has insisted that defence spending will be protected.
\n\u201cThe defence budget is sacrosanct,\u201d he said ahead of presenting the 2026 budget framework on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
France\u2019s defence chief says Russia now views France as its \u201cmain adversary in Europe\u201d amid rising security tensions News Agency Paris French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce major new defence targets on Sunday, citing heightened security threats from Russia and growing uncertainty over US support for Europe\u2019s defence. \u00c9lys\u00e9e officials said that despite […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":450310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-490312","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n