French President Emmanuel Macron has placed France at the center of efforts for Europe’s military reinforcement, amid indications of improved relations between the US and Russia.

As the U.S. reduces its military safeguarding of Europe and Russia becomes an escalating menace to the region’s safety, the European Union is urging higher expenditures and collaboration on shared defense initiatives amongst its member states.

Nevertheless, even with Macron’s aspirations, doubts remain about the capabilities of France’s military—the seventh most powerful worldwide and the leading one within the EU—according to an annual ranking by

Global Firepower

,, possesses the necessary qualities to head this project.

Strong on paper, but lacking in practice.

Following his election in 2017, Macron significantly boosted France’s expenditure on defense.

The Military Programming Act (LPM) for 2019-2025 allotted €295 billion to defense. The most recent update for the period of 2024-2030 has increased this amount to €413 billion—a rise of 40%.

Even with these investments, France is still trying to keep pace.

Senator Cedric Perrin, who belongs to the Republican Party and heads the Senate’s Defense Committee, recognized advancements but noted that the funds available are still “not enough to address the emerging threats.” He pointed specifically to Russia’s extensive military action in Ukraine starting in 2022.

According to Global Firepower, the nation’s armed forces comprise approximately 200,000 active troops along with 44,000 reserves.

The French military includes 225 Leclerc main battle tanks and 79 Caesar self-propelled howitzers. The naval fleet consists of one nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, four nuclear-ballistic missile submarines, and 15 frigates, whereas the air force oversees 197 fighter planes.

The nation likewise holds around 290 nuclear warheads as part of its deterrent approach.

However, several issues persist. For instance, the reserves of ammunition are dangerously depleted.

In 2024, France aimed to manufacture 100,000 155-mm shells annually, which aligns with NATO standards for artillery shells commonly utilized in various field guns and howitzers.

This represents a significant enhancement compared to the 6,000 units produced each year from 2012 to 2017. However, considering that the Ukrainian army fires 7,000 shells daily, France still faces considerable ground yet to cover.

A 2023 report by

France’s National Assembly

unveiled that reserves have reached an unprecedented dip and would deplete within mere weeks should a sustained confrontation occur.

The contradiction in weapons sales

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed that France boasts a strong defense industry and ranks as the globe’s second largest exporter of arms.

latest analysis.

However, it’s crucial to differentiate between French weapons exports and the military capabilities of the country’s national armed forces, as stated by Emmanuel Dupuy, a military analyst and the president of the Institute for European Perspectives and Security Studies (IPSE).

Dupuy contended that France’s logistics network for the military has weaknesses.

“We’ve emerged as the top European supplier of weapons by exporting Rafale combat aircraft and Caesar howitzers, but we face shortages in ammunition since we lack the capability to produce it domestically anymore,” he explained to Euronews.

Perrin mentioned that although France produced many high-quality items, this did not necessarily imply that the nation purchased substantial amounts of such products.

Dupuy concurred, stating that “maybe we ought to begin with the idea that we cannot become an export powerhouse unless we are willing to equip ourselves with the resources necessary for our own protection.”

France’s defense industry depends on global suppliers for essential components as well. For example, French ammunition makers obtain gunpowder from Australia, as stated by Dupuy.

Last week, France’s Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Finance Minister Eric Lombard unveiled a new gunpowder manufacturing line developed by Eurenco, an enterprise specializing in propellants and explosive materials.

The factory will manufacture approximately 1,200 tonnes of gunpowder pellets annually, enough to supply around 100,000 artillery shells, meant for

Caesar artillery units deployed in Ukraine

, among other countries.

What does the French army lack?

Even with its strong military resources, France falls short in various key aspects, the specialists cautioned.

“investing in force projection abilities—such as heavy lift aircraft for deploying significant numbers of soldiers and armored vehicles overseas—is necessary,” stated Dupuy.

A significant shortfall lies in producing additional drones, which have altered the nature of warfare, particularly in Ukraine.

A specific area of worry is surveillance.

In this age of cyber combat and digital espionage, France needs to enhance its capability to identify and react to dangers promptly, as stated by Dupuy.

He also said that France and its EU allies must break free from reliance on US-built Patriot missile systems.

“We definitely should not rely anymore on the Patriot air defense systems and instead create our own European alternatives,” he clarified.

Lack of EU cooperation

France’s military strategy has historically emphasized expeditionary operations over extensive direct confrontations.

Perrin observed that France’s military was set up for intervention “across the board,” yet he pointed out that their “piecemeal” structure restricts them from operating at full capacity.

He maintained that France, similar to other European countries, can participate in significant conflicts solely “as part of a NATO and EU ally coalition.”

Nevertheless, collaboration within Europe for the weapons industry is still evolving.

Dupuy stated that the continent needs to enhance cooperation regarding purchasing processes.

“European armed forces should have less variety in their equipment — maybe a shared European aircraft instead of individual national initiatives,” he said additionally.

Nevertheless, Perrin mentioned he remains guardedly hopeful regarding France’s situation.

new military initiative

.

He stated, ‘We are moving in the correct direction. The challenge at hand is securing the funding to process the orders.’

The French government plans to secure an extra €5 billion in both public and private financing for the defense industry, as stated by the Ministry of Finance last week.

Nevertheless, the pressure on France’s public finances limits its ability to increase defence expenditures. President Macron plans to elevate the military budget from 2% of the nation’s GDP to between 3% and 3.5% in the coming years.