Benjamin Haddad, France’s Minister for European Affairs, has called on Europe to seize a historic opportunity to bolster its military independence. In an interview with Euronews, Haddad emphasized the need for the continent to rely on its own defense industry to maintain autonomy in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
“You have the technological know-how, you have the control of use,” Haddad told Euronews’ Europe Conversation. “If Europe wants to remain autonomous, it needs to depend on its own defense industry.”
Debates Over Ukraine and Defense Control
Haddad pointed to recent tensions over the use of long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine as a key example of why European military independence is crucial. Until recently, Ukraine was restricted from using certain Western-donated weapons to strike deep into Russian territory due to prohibitions imposed by the U.S. and European donors. This limitation, Haddad noted, left Ukrainian forces “fighting with one hand behind their back.”
“Look at the debates we had over the long-range missiles sent to Ukraine,” Haddad said. “If you have American components and Americans decide they can’t do deep strikes to defend against Russian targets, they can control the use—even if European countries who donated the arms have agreed to it.”
The French minister also highlighted the European Union’s rearmament plan, which includes a €150 billion fund for radars, air defense systems, missiles, and drones. However, he stressed that such investments must translate into tangible benefits for European economies.
“Politically, you also need to show that this trickles down in terms of re-industrialization, in terms of factories, in terms of jobs,” Haddad said. “It shouldn’t be funding defense factories in Kentucky or Pennsylvania.”
Migration and EU Autonomy
Haddad, who assumed his role as Minister Delegate for European Affairs in September 2024, is a right-leaning centrist who has recently advocated for stricter EU migration rules. In an interview with POLITICO, he emphasized the need for Europe to take control of its immigration policies while maintaining openness.
“Everywhere, in all of our countries, beyond the left-right divide, there’s a strong demand from our citizens to take control of our immigration,” Haddad said. “It doesn’t mean closing our borders, but choosing our criteria for who stays on our territory and being capable of expelling those who should not stay.”
Haddad’s comments reflect a broader push for greater EU autonomy, both in defense and policy-making, as the bloc navigates complex geopolitical challenges. His calls for self-reliance and strategic independence underscore a growing sentiment among European leaders to reduce reliance on external powers and strengthen the continent’s global standing.