ISTANBUL

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed on Wednesday his intention to allocate an additional €4.2 billion ($4.9 billion) to military space activities from 2026 through 2030 during the inauguration of the Space Command in Toulouse.

"As part of the update to the Military Programming Law, we have decided on additional measures for space—plus €4.2 billion over the 2026–2030 period, on top of what had already been planned," Macron said.

He noted that, starting in 2027, France will deploy patrol satellites and develop space action and surveillance systems, including lasers, jammers, and advanced warning capabilities, to monitor and counter orbital threats while reducing dependencies.

Macron added that more than €16 billion ($18 billion) will be allocated to French civil space activities, including dual-use programs, by 2030.

"If we want to preserve our freedom to communicate, to observe, to monitor the climate, (and) to continue to take action and defend ourselves, it is essential to make decisive choices today," he underscored.

Pointing to the European space sector's "fragility" and the threats from those "who would seek to fragment it," he urged going beyond the national strategy and emphasized the necessity of three aspects for Europe’s future: competitiveness, European preference, and governance.

"France and Europe will not simply accept rules imposed by others. We will help write them with our European allies to preserve our freedom of access and action from Earth and from space," Macron said, adding: "Relying on a third great power or on any private space entity is out of the question."

He also revealed France's national space strategy for the future, focusing on pillars such as autonomous access to space, revamped industrial and defense capabilities, proactive science and exploration, and strengthening the European space sector through competitiveness, preference, and governance.

Macron further reiterated the importance of European cooperation, particularly with Germany, and announced that an international space summit will be hosted in Paris in spring 2026.