France's Macron promises higher defense budget to meet security commitment

PARIS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday pledged to raise defense budget to improve military forces' means to guarantee security at home and contribute to resolve conflicts aborad.

Addressing army officers at New Year greetings, Macron announced a "new and incomparable effort," to "have complete, strong and modern defense model...with credible effects in long-term."

He said to allocate 1.8 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) to the army this year, pulling up the defense budget to 34.2 billion euros from last year.

As to French forces' operations abroad, the president pledged 650 million euros compared to 450 millions euros in 2017. He eyes to increase the figure to 1.1 billion euros by 2020.

He also promised to raise defense budget to 2 percent from the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025.

"Our defense is absolutely a priority. I assume before the nation my choices to give you these budgets, but they will also translate a reduction of other public policies," Macron said.

"So, I give you means but at the same time, it will be for you more responsibility," he added.

Macron also warned that "today's threats are potentially the wars of tomorrow. Passivity would lead to our loss."

"I want a France faithful to its commitments within the Atlantic Alliance, but which is also the driving force of the European strategic autonomy," he told he gathering. (1 euro = 1.226 U.S. dollars) Enditem