Overview
- The New Year’s address to the armed forces was delivered at the Istres air base in southern France.
- Macron reassured attendees that his visibly puffy, red eye was "completely harmless."
- He referenced "Eye of the Tiger" to inject levity and signal determination.
- He set 2026 priorities that include accelerated rearmament, continued support for Ukraine, and a troop deployment to Greenland in support of Denmark.
- Earlier the same day, he was seen wearing sunglasses during an outdoor troop inspection.