In his annual address to the armed forces, French President Emmanuel Macron focused particularly on the need for France and Europe to strengthen their defense capabilities and ensure their sovereignty, reports The Guardian.
He spoke about the work done over the past decade in the field of rearmament, emphasizing that the efforts so far have begun to “bear fruit”, but the rapid changes in the global order require more urgency and effort.
“To remain free, you must be feared. To be feared, you must be strong. And to be strong in this brutal world, you must act faster and stronger,” said Macron.
The French president also acknowledged that France lags behind Ukraine in certain technologies, particularly in the field of drones, noting the rapid pace of innovation in this sector.
In a dedicated part of his speech, Macron highlighted the importance of the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) coalition, which aims to develop European long-range strike capabilities. He stressed that this initiative has gained urgency following Russia’s recent use of the Oreshnik missile in Ukraine.
“This launch is a very clear signal from a power that already possesses these capabilities and has decided to further strengthen them, as well as a clear message to anyone who thinks Russia is not a concern for us,” he stated.
