La crisi politica della Francia rischia di ritardare l’accumulo militare

I can’t see the French state being able to support its strategic and military goals without serious cuts to the social safety nets and increasing retirement age further. Pensions alone account for 15% of GDP with [social spending as a whole accounting for 35% of GDP](https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/publications-en-anglais/250203_DD_socialprotection_2023). Currently military spending is 2%.

The dynamics in European politics are so hard to comprehend as a foreigner (us)…it’s like everything is fine and then the government might collapse or something. Anyway, I hope for the best…regardless of petty differences the world needs the western democracies to be strong and ascendant or the void will be filled by Xi.