How far away it seems, the psychodrama which, in 2017, had forced General Pierre de Villiers, then Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, to resign. At the time, the officer protested against a saving of 850 million euros imposed on the troops by Bercy. Six years and an eternity later, Defense could be provided with a military programming law (LPM) of a colossal amount of 413 billion euros from 2024 to 2030, or 59 billion per year. Almost double of 2017.
The increase in military spending, while certain public services, such as health or education, are suffering, may seem extravagant. Despite the demagogic shortcuts, however, it is necessary to counter-argue: it is only a question of catching up with a “budgetary shortage” which has lasted nearly thirty years. Military spending dropped dramatically, from 2.97% of GDP under Giscard to 1.61% at the end of Chirac’s first term in 2002. The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a painful awakening in Europe: the war is not only among others.
Voices were raised to demand more. In our columns, Colonel Michel Goya expressed concern about a budget below 3% of GDP, less than in 1990. “We risk not being at the level”, he indicated, pointing to our “situation of extreme vulnerability”, particularly in terms of ammunition. The military specialist calculated that if France spent the same as the United States for their armies, its annual budget would rise to 92 billion euros, 56% more than in 2024, if the law is passed. The “first army in Europe” is far from being an obese mammoth. If its military status were threatened, France’s place in the concert of nations would be called into question. Unimaginable, unless we give up defending a certain vision of the world and our economic interests internationally.
In delicacy in Africa, France cannot therefore afford a downgrading in Europe, where it already delivers fewer weapons to kyiv than the United Kingdom or Poland. There remains its position as a world maritime power, dearly defended by President Macron. In the Indo-Pacific, it must more than ever watch over its overseas territories against the onslaught of piracy and the claims of the Chinese giant. Finally, 413 billion is perhaps only what is strictly necessary.