President Emmanuel Macron declared on Monday that France and Europe are prepared to defend “freedom and rights” “at the cost of blood, if necessary” during his traditional speech to the armed forces ahead of the national holiday on July 14.
“Europe is on the verge of becoming a power (…) The message we send to the world is clear: Yes, peace is our goal, yes, we value freedom and rights. And yes, we are ready to always fight to defend them, even at the cost of blood, if necessary,” Macron said, recalling the sacrifices made by French soldiers who died for France.
In light of a “strategic awakening” among Europeans, Macron emphasized France’s rearmament efforts since he took office, outlining the need to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Confronting Russia’s War
He insisted, “Even before the Sahel was plunged into chaos, before the Middle East began to ignite, and before war reached European soil, we had started rearmament in response to the reckless war that Russia is waging against Ukraine’s nation and territory.”
Macron noted that in 2017, he announced that the defense budget would be increased, commitments would be honored, and that the French military would meet its duties and responsibilities. “The commitment has been kept, the facts are evident, and history will judge,” he stated, one day before the last military parade of his presidency.
During his two terms, the French military budget has doubled, with a recent update to the military programming law adding €36 billion to the initially planned €400 billion for 2024 to 2030.
Macron also urged the continuation of European defense industrial projects and cautioned against yielding to the “absurdity” of nationalism following the failure of the Franco-German fighter jet project SCAF.
“Despite the deep regret over the SCAF failure, it would be a mistake to stop there,” he said. “Patriotism, yes; nationalism, never. When Europe is rearming, believing that hoarding capabilities separately is the right course of history is absurd.”
He concluded by stating, “We need to build ourselves as Europeans while preserving our own specificities, decision-making methods, intervention forces, and credibility.”
This afternoon, the French president will host a meeting of the Coalition of Will for Ukraine, which will include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
