French Constitutional Council Approves Record €436 Billion Military Budget

On 6 August 2026 the French Constitutional Council validated the new Military Programming Law (LPM) for 2026‑2030, authorising a total budget of €436 billion for the armed forces. The package adds €36 billion to the previous programming and reorders the hierarchy of public spending, prioritising defence over other sectors.

The law also creates a “state of national security alert” that can be triggered by decree in the event of a serious and current threat. Under this regime the government may temporarily suspend environmental, urban‑planning and public‑procurement rules, grant powers to counter‑drone systems and allow the minister to oversee works of certain intelligence agents. The Council noted that the measures are intended to protect “the fundamental interests of the Nation” and are limited to temporary installations.

The decision comes amid France’s high public‑debt level (over 112 % of GDP) and heightened geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine, rising China‑sea frictions and growing cyber threats.