Freedom has never been so threatened, President Emmanuel Macron said, preparing France for an era in which it may no longer be able to count on the U.S.

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a strategy to accelerate defence expenditure, committing to double the military budget by 2027. The decision comes as geopolitical tensions “are happening faster than expected”. This is three years ahead of the initial schedule to double the budget by 2030.

Macron called for a 3.5 billion-euro hike in defense spending next year and for another 3 billion-euro boost in 2027.