France Says Defense Budget To Stay Near 2 percent of its GDP

France Says Defense Budget To Stay Near 2 percent of its GDP

France’s defense budget will remain at around 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), although some programs might be delayed or abandoned, defense minister Herve Morin said in a newspaper interview published Saturday.
Morin, who became defense minister last month after Nicolas Sarkozy won the presidential election, also reiterated in an interview with Le Figaro that France was still working with Britain on the building of new aircraft carriers.
With Britain looking for new ships in 2012 and 2015 and France needing one around the same time, the two sides are looking at how to combine their efforts.
Morin added France would also carry out a review of its military equipment needs.
He also confirmed that French troops would remain in Afghanistan for the time being. –>