the French give priority to the army

A considerably increased sovereign budget

In the survey proposed by the Hexagon Observatory, the French would redistribute a significant part of the 1,500 billion euros in current public spending (including the Social Security budget) towards sovereign functions. In numerical terms, An additional 90 billion euros would be allocated to defense, justice and public order. This amount, which would greatly exceed current budgets, demonstrates a desire to strengthen areas perceived as essential for sovereignty and national security.

The 2025 budget currently provides 62 billion euros for the armed forces and veterans. The increase would therefore represent a 50% increase in this budget. A transformation that could propel France among the world leaders in terms of military spending, like powers like China or Russia.

What the army could do with such a budget

Such an influx of resources would allow the French army to considerably expand its scope of action and modernize its capabilities. Here are some concrete examples of possible investments:

1. Strengthening air and space defense capabilities :
   with a budget increase, France could accelerate its anti-missile defense projects and invest in systems like the improved SAMP/T. Furthermore, the development of military satellites, essential for surveillance and communications, could be intensified. Observation and reconnaissance satellites can thus cost between 500 million and 1 billion euros.
2. Modernization of land forces :
   soldier equipment, such as the Scorpion program (armored vehicles and digital systems), could be generalized more quickly. This program has so far cost 10 billion euros. Such a development would increase the projection capacity and resilience of French troops on the ground thanks to the modernization of equipment.
3. Strengthening the national navy :
   the French fleet could accommodate more new generation ships, such as multi-mission frigates (FREMM, 1 billion euros) or nuclear attack submarines (SNA, 2 billion euros), essential to protect the interests maritime strategies.
4. Workforce expansion and training :
   currently, the armed forces have around 210,000 soldiers, a number which could be significantly increased to meet the growing needs for external operations and territorial security.
5. Development of cyber and drone capabilities :
   Faced with modern threats, investment in cyber defense and autonomous drones would be a priority. An army strengthened in these areas would be better prepared for the hybrid conflicts of tomorrow.

A strategic leap for France

With an additional 90 billion euros, France would rise to the rank of the world's great military powers. Currently, the country spends approximately 2% of its GDP in defense, barely respecting NATO commitments. An increase of this magnitude could bring this ratio to around 3.5% of GDP, bringing France closer to the levels of the United States (around 3.9%). However, such a comparison is not interested in the absolute values ​​of the sums committed and the equipment purchased or modernized.

In Europe, only Germany, with its recent budgetary efforts to reach 100 billion euros dedicated to defense, would compete in terms of investments. However, unlike Germany, France has significant operational experiencewhich would give it a strategic advantage to use these resources efficiently.

A strong signal for sovereignty and alliances

The French, in their ideal budget proposals, send a clear signal: they want a stronger army, capable of guaranteeing national sovereignty in an increasingly unstable world. This popular support could also strengthen France's position within international alliances, such as NATO and the European Union, by allowing the country to assume a leading role in collective defense.

With a strengthened budget, France could also take autonomous strategic initiatives, for example in operations in Africa or the Pacificwhere the protection of overseas territories and sea lanes remains crucial. If these aspirations come true, the French army could enter a new era, both in terms of power and international influence.