Paris is used to being a regional leader.
In Paris, there are concerns that Germany's large-scale rearmament and an increase in military spending to 3.5% by 2035 could weaken the position of the French defense sector, Bloomberg reports.
French officials have expressed "fear and anxiety" in Paris regarding the scale of Germany's rearmament. In France, there are worries that the strengthening of Germany's military complex will lead to Berlin's dominance in Europe's defense sector and weaken the national defense sector, Bloomberg conveys.
The agency notes that there are conflicting sentiments within the French political establishment: on one hand, Germany's increase in defense spending is welcomed, while on the other hand, there are concerns about the rise of Berlin's political influence and its strengthening position in the military sphere.
"Domestic political instability undermines France's geopolitical influence," said European parliamentarian François-Xavier Bellamy to the agency.
According to Claudia Major, vice president of the German Marshall Fund, a consensus was established in Europe after World War II regarding France's role as a geopolitical leader and Germany's role as an economic giant. Now, in the expert's view, Germany is expanding its influence by combining both functions, which raises concerns in Paris.
Germany's increase in defense budget is linked to the decisions made at the NATO summit in The Hague in 2025, where Berlin was recommended to raise defense spending to 3.5% by 2035. NATO and most EU countries approve of these measures; however, several European capitals, including Paris, express doubts due to the popularity of the Alternative for Germany party, which criticizes euro-integration. Some countries fear the emergence of a non-pro-European government in Berlin.
Previously, Germany planned to increase its defense budget to €153 billion by 2029.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet proposed a bill to increase the Bundeswehr's personnel to 260,000 by 2035, not counting 200,000 reservists.
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