The French government is pushing for the European Union to issue joint debt to pay for increased military spending and is pitching the radical idea to its European counterparts, according to a confidential letter seen by POLITICO.

In the diplomatic note, likely to spark fierce opposition in some capitals ― especially Berlin ― France says the EU must "make up for decades of underinvestment in its defense and its defense industry.”

The letter, dated March 14, has been sent to several foreign ministries. Paris wants more countries to get on board before it sends an official version to the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell. The letter could change before then.

The war in Ukraine and increased tensions in other global hotspots coupled with the prospect of Donald Trump's return to the White House has sharpened the focus on defense issues in Europe, which has lagged behind the U.S. in military spending.

In the letter, France lists the ways in which the EU needs to step up funding, including through the issuing of joint debt ― an echo of the controversial tool it used to finance its post-Covid recovery programs and which several of the bloc's leading figures said would be a one-off...

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