Government revenue, from taxes and other receipts, came in at about 51% of GDP. But not as high as in Norway, where government revenue sits at about 62% of GDP.

Norway is an oil and gas exporting country with a state owned oil company that creates revenue. What are French revenues besides taxes? The tax rates have to be compared.

Cuts to the welfare states of NATO members like France and Germany, therefore, would obviously reflect a political choice to build up military capacities rather than fund social spending.

Yes, that’s what happened. That debate was avoided by deciding on the military spending first.