French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined plans for a big increase in defence spending, warning Europe's liberty is facing a "greater threat" than at any time since the end of World War Two. In a speech to the armed forces in Paris, he said "we are living in a pivotal moment" due to complex geopolitics.

President Emmanuel Macron said France will make a “new” and “historic” effort to increase defense spending to counter an acceleration of threats to freedom in Europe and the risk of outright war in the coming years.

The French president warns that freedom in Europe is facing its greatest threat since the end of World War II.