France has positioned itself at the center of European rearmament initiatives, as the US scales back its military protection of Europe and Russia poses an increasing threat to security. Despite France’s ambition to lead joint defense projects among EU members, questions have arisen over whether the country’s military capabilities are sufficient. France has significantly increased its defense spending, but funding remains insufficient to meet new challenges, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The French army ranks seventh globally and boasts significant assets, but concerns persist, such as low ammunition stockpiles and reliance on international suppliers for critical materials.
Although France is the world’s second-largest arms exporter, its military supply chain has flaws, leading to shortages in critical areas like ammunition production. Despite manufacturing high-quality equipment, France struggles to supply itself with necessary materials for its own security. The country’s military-industrial complex relies on imports for critical materials, highlighting vulnerabilities in key areas. Efforts to improve production capacity, such as a new gunpowder production line, aim to address these challenges and reduce reliance on international suppliers.
France faces gaps in critical areas, such as force projection capabilities and drone development, which have become increasingly important in modern warfare. Strengthening surveillance abilities in an era of cyber warfare and electronic surveillance is also crucial. France and its EU allies must reduce reliance on US-built systems, such as the Patriot missile system, and develop European equivalents to enhance security. The country’s military doctrine emphasizes expeditionary warfare, but its fragmented forces limit its ability to engage in large-scale direct conflicts without the support of NATO and EU allies.
EU cooperation in the weapons industry remains a work in progress, with a need to improve interoperability in procurement to enhance joint defense capabilities. While France’s military initiative is seen as heading in the right direction, challenges remain in finding the budget to support defense spending. The government aims to raise additional public and private funding for the defense sector, with plans to increase the army’s budget from 2% to 3-3.5% of the country’s GDP in the coming years. France aims to address deficiencies in key areas, such as force projection capabilities, drone development, and surveillance, to strengthen its military capabilities and enhance security in the face of growing threats to Europe’s stability.
