French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a ‘united Europe’ to stand up to Russian aggression by spending billions more on defence.

In a television address tonight, he said the world was entering a ‘new era’ and a ‘global conflict’ was already underway.

Mr Macron suggested the French Army would lead the defence of the continent, adding: ‘We have the most effective army in the whole of Europe, and nuclear capacity. We have been developing our army since the Second World War.

‘Our nuclear deterrent protects us: it’s complete, sovereign, French through and through. But, responding to the historic call of the future German Chancellor, I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our (nuclear) deterrence.’

He said the use of France’s nuclear weapons would remain only in the hands of the French president.

Mr Macron’s move comes in response to a push by German election winner Friedrich Merz, who recently called for a discussion on ‘nuclear sharing’ with France.

‘Europe’s future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow.’

Mr Macron added: I want to believe that the United States will remain at our side, but we must be ready if this is not the case. We must equip ourselves more, raise our defence, and preserve peace through a deterrent.’

All European countries are scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Trump froze military aid to Kyiv.

At an EU summit in Brussels tomorrow, leaders will discuss a proposal by the European Commission to borrow up to 150 billion euros to lend to the 27 EU member states under a new rearmament plan.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK will aim to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence every year from 2027 and 3% in the next parliament.

In a House of Commons statement late last month, the Prime Minister said the figure would mean a £13.4 billion increase in defence spending.

This would partially be paid for by a cut in international development spending from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%.

He told MPs: ‘One of the great lessons of our history is that instability in Europe will always wash up on our shores, and that tyrants like Putin will only respond to strength.

‘Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace, and on our streets.

‘They launched cyber attacks on our NHS, and only seven years ago, a chemical weapons attack on the streets of Salisbury.’

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