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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

France moves to boost military budget, arms stockpiles in face of Russian threat

A French Rafale fighter jet in the air over south-west France on 26 November 2025. © AFP - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

France is planning a €36 billion increase in military spending, as the head of France's armed forces warned MPs of the risk of war with Russia.

“The persistent Russian threat to our continent, with an open war [...] remains my primary concern in terms of military preparedness,” Fabien Mandon, the army’s chief of staff, told a parliamentary defence committee on Thursday.

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