Germany’s foreign minister has urged France to increase defence spending, arguing that calls for European sovereignty must translate into stronger military capabilities.
Johann Wadephul said French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly highlighted the need for European sovereignty. However, he stressed that such ambitions require concrete action at home, particularly in defence investment.
Speaking in a radio interview on Monday, Wadephul said countries advocating strategic autonomy must align rhetoric with funding. He suggested that France should take steps similar to those already underway in Germany.
Pressure grows across Europe
European nations are facing mounting pressure to strengthen defence capabilities amid concerns about waning engagement from the United States in regional security. At the same time, questions about the long-term reliability of the NATO alliance have intensified debates on defence readiness.
Although NATO members pledged last June to raise defence spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035, Wadephul said progress remains uneven. He noted that France has yet to meet expectations despite repeated discussions about boosting military budgets.
Germany, by contrast, has taken major fiscal steps. Berlin last year excluded most defence spending from constitutional debt limits, enabling long-term investment plans. Current projections show more than €500 billion in defence outlays between 2025 and 2029.
Fiscal constraints in Paris
France faces tighter financial conditions. The country carries one of the highest debt burdens in the European Union, limiting room for rapid military expansion.
Only Greece and Italy have higher debt ratios relative to GDP, both well above the EU’s 60-percent benchmark. These fiscal realities, analysts say, complicate Paris’s efforts to significantly scale up defence budgets despite growing geopolitical pressures.
