French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned that the significant sums of taxpayer euros allocated to European military budgets should not solely go towards purchasing American weaponry, advocating for increased investment in domestic defense industries.
Just ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized European defense spending as insufficient, Macron emphasized the need for the continent to boost its military expenditure. He voiced during a New Year address to military leaders, "We cannot collectively accumulate debt, boost defense outlays, and subsidize the industries, prosperity, and employment of other continents."
Highlighting a tendency for countries to favor purchasing American military equipment when increasing defense spending, Macron stressed, "When we discuss 'enhancing our armed forces,' in many nations, it often implies 'procuring more American military supplies.'"
France, possessing a robust defense sector, has expressed discontent when European Union nations opt for U.S. arms over French or European alternatives.
In response to Germany's recent collaboration with the U.S. and Israel for an air-defense system, bypassing a Franco-Italian proposal, Macron showed particular dissatisfaction.
While some have previously dismissed such concerns as self-serving, citing the historical reliance on the U.S. security umbrella since World War Two, Trump's more assertive approach has led EU members to be more open to the issue.
Macron underscored the need for streamlining the European defense industry, citing the excess of 47 different naval industrial platforms compared to the U.S.'s six.
Advocating for increased collaborative European weapon development, irrespective of French leadership, Macron declared, "We may not always emerge as the European frontrunners. Nevertheless, we can ensure that European leaders have a global presence."
Despite France achieving NATO's military budget target of 2% of GDP and possessing "Europe's most effective military," Macron cautioned against complacency, especially considering the potential U.S. troop withdrawal from Europe and the escalating global uncertainties.
Suggesting that the 2% target might fall short amid unpredictable global developments, Macron also addressed the enduring security challenge posed by Russia for Europe and the world, even in the hypothetical scenario of Ukraine conflict resolution.
He concluded by urging Europeans to engage in peace negotiations, emphasizing that the conflict resolution process would be protracted and necessitate ongoing European involvement.