France sets its military goals as war is back in Europe

By SYLVIE CORBET
The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron says France’s military strategy must strengthen the country as an independent, respected, nuclear-armed power through the end of the decade. He warned Wednesday against a risk of escalation and other global effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He noted that Europe is not safe from missile or drone strikes. Macron spoke on the Dixmude helicopter carrier, docked in the Mediterranean military base of Toulon. France’s so-called “national strategic review” is meant to define how the country’s defense will look in 2030. As war is back on the European continent, France wants to focus on boosting the European Union’s defense capacity building.