France will deploy 500 soldiers in Romania within NATO following the invasion of neighboring Ukraine by Russia, announced Friday evening February 25 the Chief of Staff of the French armies, General Thierry Burkhard.
“
NATO has decided to strengthen its presence, to send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania
,” General Burkhard said in an interview with Radio France Internationale and France 24.
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France "
volunteered (...) to assume the role of framework nation, that is to say of leading country, to deploy a battalion in Romania soon
", he added.
“
We are going to deploy around 500 men, with armored vehicles, combat vehicles, to provide support to Romania, but also to convey the message of strategic solidarity from all NATO members
”, specified the chief of staff.
Extended presence in Estonia
In addition, the French military presence within NATO in Estonia, a country bordering Russia, will be extended beyond the relief planned for March, indicated the Chief of Staff.
"
In view of the situation that NATO is experiencing today, and the crisis situation and the war situation in Ukraine, it was decided to maintain our
system", explained General Burkhard.
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“
We are going to maintain a company, around 200 to 250 soldiers, with armored vehicles, it will be a company of alpine hunters, accustomed, equipped, seasoned to fight in the middle of extreme cold
”, he said, also mentioning the deployment of "
four fighters, Mirage 2000s
".
It is a question of "
sending a very, very clear signal of strategic solidarity vis-à-vis Estonia, but also a real signal of firmness and without ambiguity vis-à-vis Russia
", he said. He underlines.
After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, NATO deployed multinational battle groups in the three Baltic States and Poland, for a permanent mission of "
Enhanced
Forward Presence" (EFP), assumed by several member countries.