Macron’s Bastille Day Message: France Doubles Down With $74.8B in Military Might
France's $74.8B Military Budget Push Sparks Critical Mineral Race and Strategic Independence Drive

In a world where geopolitical chess moves are played with tanks and tariffs, French President Emmanuel Macron has made a bold gambit. On July 13, 2025, Macron announced a seismic increase in military spending, aiming to pump $74.8 billion into France’s armed forces by 2027. This isn’t just a flex of Gallic muscle—it’s a strategic pivot that underscores the growing importance of critical minerals like antimony in an era of global uncertainty. With Macron declaring that “freedom has never been so threatened,” France’s push for military self-reliance is set to ignite a race for the obscure yet essential resources powering modern defense.
Macron’s speech, delivered on the eve of Bastille Day, painted a grim picture of a world where “there are no more rules” and the “law of the strongest” prevails. He’s not wrong. With Russia looming as Europe’s boogeyman, U.S. alliances looking shakier than a Parisian café table, and global conflicts multiplying, France is doubling down on its military might. The budget, which stood at $37.64 billion when Macron took office in 2017, will effectively double in a decade. That’s a lot of euros for tanks, jets, and high-tech gadgets—all of which rely on critical minerals like antimony, a lesser-known element that’s suddenly a geopolitical superstar.
