On the afternoon of July 15, local time, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne unveiled the 2026 budget plan, which is designed to save €43.8 billion over the next four years. The primary objectives of this plan are to alleviate the fiscal deficit crisis and restore stability to public finances. However, President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to allocate an additional €3.5 billion to defense has introduced a layer of complexity to the fiscal plan. Macron had previously announced that France's defense budget would increase by €3.5 billion in 2026, followed by an additional €3 billion in 2027, with the ultimate aim of doubling the defense budget.