In the event of a major conflict, our Army would run out of ammunition in three days.
Three days just means we would lose the next war.
Unlike Emmanuel Macron, I did not wait for the war in Ukraine to defend our Army and our duty to be powerful.
The duty of power is also a duty of prudence and protection of the French. But today, our Army suffers from lack of vision and consideration on the part of professional politicians and too often, on the ground, our men are dependent on the United States and NATO.
For France to regain its power, our Army must be
independent, valued and able to operate in different theaters of operations. For this, I suggest:
To increase the Defense budget by 490 billion over 7 years. It is a vital minimum.
To increase the number of the Army by 100,000 men in 2027, by improving recruitment and living conditions in the regiment, by facilitating family life, and by upgrading training for career purposes .
Reinforce our Air Force and our Air Force with 300 fighter planes in 2040 and with combat drones by relying on the excellence of our air industry (Dassault, Thales).
Provide our French Navy with 2 aircraft carriers, 20 frigates and 8 nuclear attack submarines to defend our interests all over the globe.
King Charlesâs state visit to France and a banquet at the Palace of Versailles could have had âechoesâ of the French Revolution, according to a former British ambassador to France.
Peter Ricketts, who was Britainâs envoy in France from 2012 to 2016, said the dinner would have been poorly timed, coming during widespread protests against the French president, Emmanuel Macronâs, plans to change the pension system and raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The visit was postponed on Friday as the revolt continued. On Thursday night 441 police officers were injured in violent protests, and 903 fires had to be put out by French firefighters. A total of 457 people were arrested. A visit could instead take place at the start of the summer.
The king and queen consort were due to visit Bordeaux on Tuesday. Demonstrators set fire to its 18th-century front door earlier this week. There was concern protesters would target the Palace of Versailles, where a dinner was due to be held.
The trappings of a state visit by King Charles amid violent clashes between protesters and police over the changes would have evoked a resemblance with the French Revolution of the 18th century.
The revolt over living standards in comparison to the extravagance of the court of Louis XVI resulted in the monarchy being overthrown, a republic established, and his wife, Marie Antoinette, and others executed.
Lord Ricketts said: âThe fact that there are now these violent protests which seem to be growing made, in particular, the idea of a banquet in Versailles a particularly bad idea. That had all kinds of echoes from the past going back to the revolution.
âBordeaux looked to be difficult as well for the visit the king was planning to make. So, as it turned out, the circumstances were not right, in which case it is right to postpone.â
Sylvie Bermann, a former French ambassador to the UK, said images of King Charles travelling through Paris and the grandeur of a state visit âwould not have been goodâ.
Bermann, who was ambassador between 2014 and 2017 said it would be frustrating for Macronâs government to have to postpone the visit, with Charles due to arrive on Sunday, amid improving relations between the two countries.
A ÂŁ500m deal was struck earlier in March between Britain and France to fund a detention centre in northern France as part of a move to stop refugees trying to cross the Channel in small boats.
âIt was impossible,â she told BBC Radio 4âs Today programme. âNot only because of security but because it wouldnât have been the best conditions. âIt is true that the dinner in Versailles would not have given a good image while there is unrest in France.â
In a statement on Friday, Buckingham Palace said: âThe king and the queen consortâs state visit to France has been postponed. Their majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.â
The ĂlysĂŠe statement said it hoped to welcome the king âin conditions that correspond our friendly relationsâ and that the visit would be rescheduled âas soon as possibleâ.
âFrom the moment last night when the unions announced a new day of mobilisation on Tuesday and the kingâs visit was scheduled for Monday to Wednesday, I think it would not be serious and would lack a certain common sense to propose to his majesty the king and queen consort to come on a state visit in the midst of demonstrations,â Macron said.
âAs we have much friendship, respect and esteem for his majesty the king and queen consort and the British people, I took the initiative and called him to tell him the situation and the announcement of a new day of action and good sense and friendship led us to propose a postponement.â
The king and queen consortâs state visit to Germany, which had been due to take place after the French tour, is understood to be going ahead as planned.
King Charles and the queen consortâs state visit to France was postponed due to widespread protests. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images
Beaune (French pronunciation: [bon] (listen)) is the wine capital of Burgundy in the CĂ´te d’Ordepartment in eastern France. It is located between Lyon and Dijon. Beaune is one of the key wine centers in France, and the center of Burgundy wine production and business. The annual wine auction of the Hospices de Beaune is the primary wine auction in France.
The town is surrounded by some of the world’s most famous wine villages[citation needed], while the facilities and cellars of many producers, large and small, are situated in the historic center of Beaune itself, as they have been since Roman times. With a rich historical and architectural heritage, Beaune is considered the “Capital of Burgundy wines“. It is an ancient and historic town on a plain by the hills of the CĂ´te d’Or, with features remaining from the pre-Roman and Roman eras, through the medieval and renaissance periods.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this evening with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
The two leaders discussed at length ways to confront the Iranian nuclear threat. Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that deterrence with Iran and its proxies in the Middle East needs to be strengthened. He also called for imposing significant sanctions on the Iranian regime and for the Revolutionary Guards to be included on the EU terrorism list.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Macron also discussed the regional arena and the need to maintain regional stability, especially in Lebanon, and opportunities to expand the circle of peace.
To increase the Defense budget by 490 billion over 7 years. It is a vital minimum.
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