France is prepared to take on greater responsibility within NATO and strengthen its military capabilities, Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said Thursday ahead of a meeting of alliance defense ministers in Brussels, as European members face growing pressure to increase defense spending and bolster collective security.
"France has always played the card of sovereignty, autonomy and responsibility,” Vautrin said three weeks before the summit.
She added that it must also be reflected in concrete defense capabilities.
She said discussions would focus on the alliance’s response to evolving security threats, military capabilities and support for Ukraine.
She highlighted France’s military deployments within NATO missions, including in Romania, Estonia and the Baltic region, as well as air policing operations.
