Macron pledges to modernise France’s nuclear arsenal with increased defence spending

‘What we are experiencing on European soil for the past year in Ukraine teaches us lessons,’ French president says

French President Emmanuel Macron views a military drone as he visits the Mont-de-Marsan air base (AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a substantial boost in military spending until the end of the decade to face what he called "multiple threats".

He announced plans for €413bn (£361 billion) in military spending from 2024 to 2030 to ensure "our freedom, our security, our prosperity, our place in the world". That compares with spending of about 295bn euros (£258.5bn) in a similar military plan for 2019 to 2025.

That would mean a 28 per cent increase in the annual military budget from €49.2bn to €68.8bn.