In the context of the war in Ukraine, the deputies will debate for fifteen days the budget of the armies. The government is proposing an increase of 413 billion euros over seven years, in particular to modernize the army and improve the treatment of troops.
In a context of rising international tensions, the deputies will debate the budget of the armies. The military programming bill (LPM) arrives at the National Assembly from Monday, May 22. The debates at first reading will last two weeks, with more than 1,700 amendments tabled, before a solemn vote scheduled for June 6. The LPM provides for a sharp increase in the budget over the next seven years, but leads to military equipment objectives by 2030 revised downwards. Franceinfo returns to what the text contains.
A growing budget
The need identified by the government for the armies amounts to 413.3 billion euros over seven years (2024-2030), or 40% more than for the previous military programming law 2019-2025 (295 billion). The Defense budget, already on the rise for six years, will amount to 43.9 billion in 2023, according to figures from the Ministry of the Armed Forces. This budget should be further revised upwards in successive steps in the coming years to reach and then exceed 2% of French GDP (gross domestic product).
An increase of 3.1 billion euros is therefore planned in 2024, then an additional 3 billion per year from 2025 to 2027, and finally 4.3 billion more per year from 2028, details vie-publique.fr. The budget will therefore reach 68.9 billion euros in 2030. “There’s Nothing Too Much”, considers the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu. Listened to by the deputies in committee, the defense industrialists said “perfectly aware of the effort made by the Nation”, despite the high level of public debt. If 400 billion euros are financed by budgetary appropriations, 13.3 billion will be financed by extrabudgetary resources, which the High Council of Public Finances considers more uncertain, reports Public Senate.
Priorities focused on nuclear deterrence and the “loyalty” of troops
In the context of the return of war in Europe and the rise of international tensions, the government has several objectives with this LPM, starting with the modernization of nuclear deterrence tools and better “loyalty” troops. Thirty billion euros must also be used to cover inflation.
Nuclear deterrence, due to its modernization (acquisition of future ballistic missile submarines, M51 and ANS4G missiles, etc.), alone consumes 13% of credits. It’s the “amount of life insurance”which at the same time makes it possible to have recourse to fewer conventional forces, estimates Thomas Gassilloud, Renaissance deputy for the Rhône and chairman of the Defense Committee.
The employment target of 275,000 soldiers and civilians (excluding reservists) is unchanged, but the credits increase from 87 to 98 billion euros over the period to improve salaries and encourage them to stay in the army. Equipment (aircraft, armored vehicles, etc.) represents 268 billion euros, and the budget devoted to their maintenance has increased by 40% (49 billion euros), as has that of force training (65 billion).
The LPM also intends to remedy the weaknesses brought to light by the conflict in Ukraine, in particular to increase the stocks of ammunition (16 billion euros, +45%) or the ground-air defense devices (5 billion). Emphasis is also placed on the “new areas of conflict”, such as space (6 billion, +40%) or cyber (4 billion, +300%). Twice as much money must finally be devoted to drones (5 billion euros), 5 billion to intelligence and two billion to special forces.
A decrease in the number of planes and armored vehicles
In a constrained framework, material delivery delays after 2030 are expected, “even if we don’t see the target again”, assures the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu. The armies will thus receive 2,300 new armored vehicles over the period, i.e. 30% less than previously planned. In 2030, the Air Force will have 137 Rafales against an initial target of 185 and 35 A400M transport planes (against 50 anticipated), and the Navy will only be able to count on three of the five defense frigates and intervention.
Sebastien Lecornu says “favor consistency over mass” in order to ensure that the equipment and soldiers are effectively operational. “We have long cut back on the activity of the forces and training to avoid political and industrial difficulties” by canceling orders for equipment, he lamented during the committee hearings.
Among the other measures, a provision provides for the control of the activities of former soldiers for the benefit of foreign entities. London had taken similar steps to end China’s recruitment of British military pilots to train its own airmen. Several articles also set music “war economy” promoted by Emmanuel Macron, in particular requisitions for the benefit of defence, or the constitution of strategic stocks of raw materials and components.
… and expected debates on figures and military doctrine
Much of the first week of debates should bring out the differences in doctrine. The overwhelming majority of some 1,700 amendments were tabled on an article which refers to an appended report, a kind of military roadmap for France, both in its doctrine and in the equipment of its armies. The LPM will lead to a delay in the delivery of several pieces of equipment, which worries the opposition. A debate will punctuate the examination, that of the “mass” against the “consistency” : Should the army equip itself with as much equipment as possible, or limit its investments so that what it has is usable (maintenance, training, etc.)?
Ecologists will oppose the project of a future aircraft carrier and the Communists will assert their desire to get out of nuclear deterrence. The elected representatives of La France insoumise will raise, among other things, the question of NATO, and will present a global counter-project on Monday. The RN will insist on industrial sovereignty. The issue of military partnerships, including European ones, will also be on the table.
Deputies from left and right also intend to denounce announcement effects, even the“insincerity” of text. “The budget lines do not correspond to the superlatives announced”assures the socialist Anna Pic, who believes that the LPM is more a “continuity” of the previous one and that “100 billion” euros are already flowing from it. Another complaint of the oppositions, the uncertainty, according to them, around the 13.3 billion euros, which must be financed by extrabudgetary resources.
From the left to the RN, the opposition finally demands that the most important efforts arrive before the end of the five-year term. However, the most expensive investments will take place after the presidential election of 2027, according to the future programming law. “Effort is immediate”, retorted Olivier Marleix, president of the group Les Républicains in the National Assembly. His group will still play a pivotal role, in the absence of an absolute majority for the presidential camp and in a context of fragility for the government which remains marked by the sequence of retreats. Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who promises in Le Figaro of “dodge no questions” will try to find a compromise between fussy Republicans and part of the Nupes.