French president says Europe must boost defense manufacturing to counter threats, citing Ukraine war and strategic risks.
2:35 PM
French President Emmanuel Macron called on European Union countries to significantly expand weapons production capacity, arguing that manufacturing capability rather than existing stockpiles is essential for deterrence in the current security environment.
Speaking in an address to the French army on July 13, Macron emphasized the need for rapid mobilization across Europe's defense industry. "Amid the existing threats, our entire defense industry must mobilize to be able to quickly shift its focus to the production of reliable equipment, and be prepared for mass production of certain types of weapons when necessary," he said, according to his press service.
Macron framed the expansion as a strategic necessity rooted in lessons from recent events. "The war in Ukraine and the risks identified in the National Strategic Review clearly demonstrate that strategic stability in Europe today rests on production flows rather than on stockpiles," he stated. He added that potential adversaries would be deterred not by the size of existing arsenals but by the demonstrated capacity to manufacture weapons at scale.
The French leader also acknowledged setbacks in European defense cooperation. He admitted that the French-German program for developing a new-generation fighter jet under the SCAF/FCAS (Future Combat Air Systems) project had failed to meet its objectives.
Macron's remarks reflect broader European concerns about defense readiness amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine and evolving security threats on the continent. His call for expanded production capacity signals a shift in strategic thinking toward emphasizing manufacturing infrastructure and supply chain resilience as core elements of deterrence policy.
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