French President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to an air base in northeastern France that Paris will “increase and accelerate orders for “Rafale“ fighter jets for its air force, as part of new defense investments that are necessary in the context of global geopolitical instability, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
Macron explained that decisions on additional investments to respond to “acceleration of events“ will be announced “in the coming weeks“.
He stressed that the Air Force will benefit “from more orders for “Rafale“ - the French fighter jet of the company “Dassault Aviation“. “This is imperative in the current context. It is also a natural choice to integrate the efforts of the air force with regard to Ukraine, with the transfer of our “Mirage“ fighters to Kiev“, Macron added.
Last year, the French Air Force had 108 “Rafale“ aircraft, and the Navy - 41. France is to acquire another 56 aircraft, with French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu recently indicating the need to acquire another 30 “Rafale“ fighters (20 for the Air Force, 10 for the Navy).
During his visit to the “Luxeoy“ air base in the northeast of France, Macron announced that it would be “by 2035, the first base to receive the next version of the “Rafale“ fighter jet and its hypersonic nuclear missile, part of the ongoing renewal of the French nuclear deterrent“.
The president noted that around 1.5 billion euros would be invested in preparing the site.
“At a time when France and Europe have decided to strengthen their defense capabilities, amid the rapprochement between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the French president assumed his functions as commander-in-chief of the armed forces during a visit to the 116th air base“, the Elysee Palace said. The base allows France to "play a central role in defending the interests of the North Atlantic Alliance and beyond." "Our country and our continent will have to continue to defend itself, to arm itself, to prepare if we want to avoid war," Macron said. "Nobody knows what will happen in the coming months and years. What I want is to be ready. What I want is to be protected," he added, calling for readiness while some of his opponents, especially on the far right, accuse him of "playing on people's fears" by raising the issue of the "Russian threat." Standing in front of a "Mirage" fighter jet, a "Rafale" and about 200-300 uniformed soldiers, Macron stressed France's nuclear deterrent. It and Britain are the only European countries with nuclear weapons. "This is an opportunity for our country. That is why we will continue to strengthen each of its components," he said.
Earlier this month, Macron announced that he had decided to launch a strategic debate on the protection of allies on the European continent through nuclear deterrence, in response to a "historic call" from future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
This afternoon, the French president will meet outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, and then with Merz, AFP reported.