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France Says Russian Hybrid Attacks Are Intensifying

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French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Russia’s hybrid attacks targeting France and other European countries have intensified in recent weeks. He said France would respond and has ordered the government to prepare measures to protect critical infrastructure from potential drone and cyber attacks.

Macron said Moscow was seeking to intimidate Europe and weaken its support for Ukraine. He pointed to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport in August, which Germany has attributed to Russia, as an example of the changing nature of the threat. Russia has rejected European allegations of hybrid attacks as baseless.

Macron also addressed rising fuel prices and France’s economic pressures, as the government works on its budget for next year. He said the country’s high deficit limits its ability to offset higher fuel costs and announced that G7 countries are expected to meet in the coming weeks to strengthen cooperation and secure energy supplies.

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French Former Minister Rachida Dati Goes on Trial Over Alleged Renault-Nissan Lobbying

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French former culture and justice minister Rachida Dati has gone on trial in Paris over allegations that she accepted €900,000 from Renault-Nissan in exchange for political influence. Dati, who served as a European Parliament member between 2009 and 2019, says the payments were for legal services and denies wrongdoing.

Prosecutors allege that the contract was used to disguise lobbying activities on behalf of Renault-Nissan and that former CEO Carlos Ghosn recruited Dati to lobby in the European Parliament and help establish contacts with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Ghosn is also on trial but will not appear in court, as he has been living in Lebanon since 2019.

If convicted, Dati could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine and a five-year ban from public office. The case could also affect her position as mayor of Paris’s 7th district, a role she has held since 2008. Anti-corruption groups involved in the case are calling for stricter rules on political lobbying in France.

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Finland Joins France’s Nuclear Deterrence Initiative to Strengthen European Security

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Finland has joined France’s initiative to expand cooperation with European partners on nuclear deterrence, the leaders of both countries announced on Monday. The move comes amid concerns over the future of US security commitments to Europe and the wider security impact of the war in Ukraine. France launched the Forward Nuclear Deterrence Initiative in March as part of efforts to strengthen Europe’s responsibility for its own defence.

The initiative allows participating countries to engage in joint military exercises, discuss nuclear strategy more closely and potentially host nuclear-capable assets for short periods. However, the decision to use French nuclear weapons remains solely with the French president, unlike NATO’s nuclear framework, which involves a shared Nuclear Planning Group. Finland’s defence minister described joining the initiative as a natural step following other Nordic countries.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the programme is aimed at strengthening European security and preventing escalation, while stressing that it does not replace NATO’s nuclear deterrence. Finland also said it does not intend to allow nuclear weapons to be stationed on its territory during peacetime. With Finland’s addition, 10 European countries now participate in the French initiative.

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Sweden Orders Four French Warships

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Sweden has signed an order for four frigates from French defence company Naval Group, in a deal aimed at strengthening the country’s military capabilities. The agreement was signed in Stockholm in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Sweden has accelerated defence spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led the country to abandon its longstanding policy of military neutrality. European nations have also been boosting defence budgets amid growing concerns over security and uncertainty about the level of future U.S. support.

The deal, announced in May at a value of around $4 billion, is expected to triple Sweden’s air-defence capacity. The four frigates will be the largest ships in the Swedish Navy, with the first vessel scheduled for delivery in 2030. Macron said the agreement would strengthen Europe’s defence industry and its ability to take greater responsibility for regional security.

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France Votes on Social Media Ban for Under-15s

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French lawmakers are voting on a proposed law that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. If approved, the legislation would require platforms to implement age verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator, with the government aiming to enforce the rules before the next academic year.

Under the proposal, children younger than 15 would be barred from creating new social media accounts from September 1, while platforms would have four months to close existing accounts belonging to underage users. Educational websites and online encyclopaedias would remain accessible, while platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube would be affected by the restrictions.

The move follows similar action in Australia and reflects growing global concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and safety. President Emmanuel Macron has strongly backed the legislation, arguing that limiting social media use among young people will help improve their well-being, attention, and development.

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France and Germany Deepen Defence Ties to Boost Europe’s Security

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France and Germany have agreed to strengthen their defence partnership as Europe seeks greater military autonomy amid evolving global security challenges. During a joint meeting in Bruehl, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to expand cooperation on missile defence, long-range strike systems and broader security initiatives.

In a landmark move, German troops will participate in a French nuclear exercise for the first time, reflecting closer strategic coordination between the two countries. Macron reaffirmed that France would continue to fully finance its own nuclear deterrent, while Merz said any future cooperation would complement NATO’s existing defence framework rather than replace it.

The two leaders also voiced concerns over China’s industrial overcapacity and currency policies, arguing they place European industries under increasing pressure. Despite recent setbacks in their joint fighter aircraft programme, France and Germany confirmed that key elements of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project will continue, with improved oversight to strengthen future defence collaboration.

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French MPs Approve Assisted Dying Bill

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France’s National Assembly has approved a landmark assisted dying bill after years of political debate, voting 291 to 241 in favour of the legislation. The bill would allow eligible adults with a serious, incurable, life-threatening illness in an advanced or terminal stage to request assisted dying under strict legal safeguards. The law must still undergo constitutional review before it can take effect.

Under the proposed legislation, patients must voluntarily request the procedure and obtain approval from a doctor following consultations within 15 days. After a mandatory two-day reflection period, the patient would generally administer the life-ending medication themselves. If they are physically unable to do so, a doctor or nurse could assist, provided the patient’s consent is confirmed on the day of the procedure.

The legislation remains politically and socially divisive, drawing opposition from religious groups and some medical professionals, while opinion polls indicate broad public support. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has referred key provisions of the bill to France’s Constitutional Council for review, including the reflection period, consent rules for protected patients, and the role of palliative care facilities before the law can be formally enacted.

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France Showcases Support for Ukraine at Bastille Day Parade

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France used its annual Bastille Day parade to highlight European unity and support for Ukraine, with around 500 troops from the “Coalition of the Willing” marching along the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The parade also featured about 25 Ukrainian soldiers and came a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy joined more than 25 world leaders in Paris for a summit focused on strengthening support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed leaders including Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the national day celebrations. The event also included a joint fly-past by French and allied European aircraft, with Mirage fighter jets flown alongside Ukrainian co-pilots currently undergoing training. France described the international participation as a symbol of Europe’s growing commitment to collective security.

The display came as European allies announced a new air defence coalition to help Ukraine counter intensified Russian attacks and ammunition shortages. The Kremlin criticised the Paris gathering, calling the coalition “hostile.” Speaking ahead of the parade, Macron said Europe faces its most serious security challenges in decades and must be prepared to defend its values, freedom, and security if necessary.

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France Signals Openness to SAMP/T Air Defence Sale to Turkey

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France is showing renewed openness to a potential sale of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defence system to Turkey, marking a significant shift after years of political resistance. According to sources, the change follows recent discussions between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, although negotiations remain at an early stage and no agreement has been reached.

Turkey is seeking the SAMP/T system as part of its planned “Steel Dome” integrated air and missile defence network. The project, launched jointly by Turkey, France and Italy several years ago, had stalled due to tensions over Syria, Libya and disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish officials now say there is renewed political willingness among all three countries to revive defence cooperation, including possible technology transfer and joint production.

Despite the positive signals, any potential deal is expected to face diplomatic and political hurdles. France is likely to consult with Greece and Cyprus before moving forward, given its defence partnerships with both countries. Officials stress that the latest discussions represent only the beginning of a lengthy process, with any future agreement likely to involve the upgraded version of the SAMP/T system.

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G7 Summit in France: European Leaders Challenge Trump on Interim Iran Deal and Ukraine Strategy

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At the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, European leaders are preparing to confront U.S. President Donald Trump over his preliminary peace deal with Iran and his current strategy regarding the war in Ukraine. While Trump arrived buoyed by an interim agreement aimed at ending the broader Middle East conflict—with a formal signing targeted for Friday—European allies fear the deal is superficial. They warn that a weak agreement risks entrenching Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and France, Britain, and Germany are pushing for a direct role in the upcoming 60-day negotiation window to ensure a more robust framework than what an inexperienced U.S. team might secure.

Concurrently, the summit serves as a critical battleground for reshaping the Russia-Ukraine diplomatic narrative. European diplomats are attempting to convince Trump that past U.S. peace proposals have leaned too heavily in Moscow’s favor. Leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Ukraine has strengthened its domestic military production and successfully struck strategic targets deep inside Russia, arguing that Vladimir Putin’s war economy is highly strained under sanctions. European nations want to signal an openness to talks with Putin, but insist that stricter sanctions and increased military support for Kyiv must remain on the table to show that Moscow is the party blocking peace.

The security of global energy supplies is also a dominant focus of the summit’s agenda, particularly regarding the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders, alongside representatives from the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt, will discuss a potential Franco-British-led maritime mission and alternative energy routes to bypass the volatile waterway. While Trump confidently stated that the strait would be “completely open” by Friday, European policymakers remain cautious, balancing their immediate energy security anxieties against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s concerns that the Middle East crisis is dangerously diverting American attention and resources away from the four-year war in Europe.

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