An announcement to the French people was made by Emanuel Macron, stating that “we are entering a new era” and announcing that next week he plans to call on Paris to the European heads of armed forces.

He also said France must be ready if the US is no longer on the country’s side.

Macron began the address by listing the current security and economic challenges facing the country. Historical events are upsetting the world order as U.S. support for Ukraine is uncertain, even as the U.S. “tries to impose tariffs” on allies, the French president said.

“We have to come up with a long-term peace plan,” Macron said.

“We must arm ourselves.”

“Europe must be able to better defend itself. We must arm ourselves more,” he said.

France is proposing to increase defence spending and is investing in allowing European nations to buy weapons, ammunition, and defence supplies from European sources. That means “re-industrializing our region,” Macron said.

French President Emmanuel Macron says that nuclear deterrence is essential for Europe. “France has maintained nuclear deterrence since 1964,” Macron said. “This deterrence must apply to all our European allies,” he added.

Concluding his address, Emmanuel Macron appealed to citizens to rally: “The French nation needs you. Political decisions and military equipment are only part of the puzzle. But these will never come without solidarity. Our generation will not be able to live on the dividends of peace alone. It is up to us to sow the seeds for the future.”