France Approves Euro 2 Billion 2018 Defence Spending Hike to Fund Anti-terror Ops

French lawmakers approved a two billion euros defence spending hike in 2018 to fund renewing military transporters, fighter jets and other equipment used in anti-terror operations in west Africa and the Middle East.

The 1.8 billion euros in additional spending approved by the National Assembly takes the defence budget to 32.4 billion euros, or 1.82 percent of GDP, according to AFP report.

The increase compensates for an 850 million euro cut to this year's defence budget, which triggered a standoff in July between Macron and then armed forces chief General Pierre de Villiers.

Beyond 2018, Macron plans to continue ploughing more money into the military, to try reach a NATO target of spending equivalent to two percent of GDP by 2025.

French forces have been taking part in strikes against Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq and around 4,000 troops are hunting Islamist extremists in west and central Africa.

At home, 7,000 soldiers have been deployed to patrol the streets after a series of terror attacks.