France opposes EU loan rule relaxation that would let Ukraine buy UK‑made Storm Shadow missiles. Paris insists loan funds must be spent within the EU to prioritise European defence industry. The dispute arose as 11 EU states pushed for broader access to UK arms, but France vetoed a proposal to buy Storm Shadows from the UK. The move reflects France’s broader strategy to limit reliance on non‑EU allies, especially the United States, and to strengthen EU strategic autonomy. The disagreement has drawn criticism from Baltic, Nordic, Polish, Romanian, Czech and Dutch governments, while Germany has shown support for a more flexible approach. France also announced plans for the Orion‑26 military exercise involving forces from more than 20 countries.

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