Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: In the wake of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine and the resulting security worries, French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday disclosed plans to increase France’s defense spending for the next seven years by a third.
Macron’s statement comes a day after over one million people demonstrated against a proposed reform to reduce pensions deficits in France.
The French President said he planned to ask parliament to agree on a new budget of over 400 billion euros ($430 billion) for 2024-2030. Defense spending for the 2019-2025 period was set at 295 billion euros.
Speaking at France’s air base of Mont-de-Marsan, Macron elaborated that the armed forces are to be transformed after repairing them.
Proposal to increase spending on military intelligence by 60 percent
Macron added that for the same period, the budget for military intelligence would be raised by 60 percent. He added that he hoped by this measure the country’s ability to respond against cyberattacks would be doubled.
