Antalya: French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Tuesday that France urgently needs to reduce its budget deficit to withstand the "tsunami of destabilization" in the international order, pointing to US President Donald Trump's policies as a major source of global disruption.

According to Anadolu Agency, Bayrou spoke at a news conference ahead of talks on the 2026 budget, emphasizing that Trump's decision to turn against traditional allies and initiate a trade war through tariffs had severely undermined global trust and stability. Bayrou described the situation as a "hurricane" initiated by the U.S. president with long-lasting consequences, exacerbated by the ongoing war and a significant shift in global alliances.

Bayrou referred to a February meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office as emblematic of "a reversal of alliances that no one could have imagined." This remark comes as the French government faces heightened fiscal and political pressure while preparing to present its 2026 budget proposal. Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, was ousted in December after failing to implement a 2025 budget plan with sufficient spending cuts.

BFMTV reported that France's budget deficit was at 5.8% of GDP in 2024, surpassing the EU's 3% threshold. Bayrou announced the government's target to reduce the deficit to 5.4% this year and gradually align it with EU standards by 2029. While specifics on spending cuts were not provided, Bayrou mentioned that consultations with lawmakers and stakeholders would conclude earlier than usual, aiming for the budget presentation by July 14, France's national day.

Bayrou, addressing the audience from a podium with the slogan "The truth allows us to act," cautioned that France's current financial state left it particularly exposed in times of international instability.