PARIS (AP) — France’s prime minister vowed Friday to spare the country’s defense budget from new government spending cuts, after top military chiefs threatened to resign amid fears that further reductions will be made.

Manuel Valls sought to dispel what he called unfounded worries about a five-year defense budget program adopted in December, which already included military spending cuts. He said President Francois Hollande has said the plan would be “totally preserved” from broad new cost-cutting measures by his debt-saddled government.

Recommended Stories

Americans turn against socialism in last months before midterm election: Poll

Democrats near the prize: Election-law overhauls in battleground states

MAGA won the party. It just lost the math