French Parliament Preliminarily Approves Trillion-Dollar Military Budget Increase; Defense Minister Says Preparedness is Key to Victory

In response to the changing international situation, France's National Assembly has voted to approve an additional €36 billion (approximately NT$1.3 trillion) for the defense budget. Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said today, "To win a war, one must prepare for a rainy day." According to the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law enacted in 2023, France's total defense budget is approximately €410 billion. Yesterday, the National Assembly preliminarily passed an amendment with 440 votes in favor and 122 against, which adds €36 billion to the military budget by 2030 to address the new international landscape. The bill must now be sent to the Senate for review in June. In an interview with franceinfo, Vautrin said, "To earn respect, one must be feared. To be feared, one must be well-trained and well-equipped." She stated that the law passed in 2023 is scheduled for an update in 2027, and "our military budget will double within 10 years." She pointed out, "We must upgrade our equipment," with the state investing an additional €8 billion in ammunition alone, and more funds will be allocated to fighter jets and tanks, but "France's stance is defensive." Vautrin praised Sweden's recent decision to purchase four corvettes from France's Naval Group as a "great victory for Team France" and an "excellent example of European cooperation." Regarding the tendency of several European countries to purchase American F-35 fighter jets over France's Rafale, Vautrin said France continues to enhance the Rafale's competitiveness and is striving to make progress in Europe. Amid international shifts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the threat it poses to European nations, the war in the Middle East, and the US threatening to withdraw from NATO, France is actively boosting its defense capabilities. In March of this year, French President Emmanuel Macron declared, "Facing multiple threats, we must strengthen our nuclear deterrence," ordering an increase in the number of French nuclear warheads and announcing that data on its nuclear arsenal would no longer be published. Later that month, he announced that the new aircraft carrier under construction will be named "France libre" and is expected to replace the current "Charles de Gaulle" in 2038.