This is Emmanuel Macron's first tour of southeastern Europe since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Accompanied by Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, he will be welcomed at the end of the day at the NATO base of Mihail Kogalcinearu near Constanta, the major Romanian port on the Black Sea.
A location that has become extremely strategic since the start of the war.
Romania, like the Baltic countries and Poland, being, according to the Elysée, on the “front line”.
The Head of State should meet during the day the 500 soldiers deployed on this base, including 350 soldiers of the Army, from different units, including the 27th Battalion of Alpine Hunters from Annecy or the 126th Infantry Regiment from Brive.
They form the "Spearhead Battalion" with currently 300 Belgian soldiers, who will be replaced by Dutch in the coming months.
Emmanuel Macron should also meet with the leaders of the Aigle force launched as part of NATO's strengthening of "its deterrent and defensive posture on its eastern flank of Europe".
On Wednesday morning, the President of the Republic will be joined by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
Emmanuel Macron will express “a very clear message of our commitment to NATO allies and European partners”, according to the Élysée, which insists on “the very significant investment” that it represents.
France recently deployed a state-of-the-art surface-to-air defense system there.
France in support of Moldova
Then, at midday, Emmanuel Macron will be received in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, by President Maia Sandu, with whom he has developed "a relationship of trust" after having received her three times at the Élysée. since February 2021. He is the first French president to visit this country since Jacques Chirac in 1998. Emmanuel Macron will express "France's support in the most direct way possible", according to the Élysée, to this former Soviet Republic, particularly affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with which it has a common border.
France is already financially and materially helping Moldova, which is showing “exceptional solidarity” in welcoming Ukrainian refugees: more than 480,000 have gone there and 80,000 are still there.
With a population of 2.6 million, this country, one of the poorest in Europe, submitted its application to join the European Union on 3 March, as did Ukraine (28 February) and Georgia ( 3rd of March).
A request on which the European Commission will decide in the coming days before being discussed at the European summit on June 23 and 24 in Brussels.
During her visit to Paris in May, President Sandu had publicly welcomed the "initiative" launched by Emmanuel Macron to create a European political community, which according to her will allow her country to "accelerate" its entry into the EU.
“We understand that membership is a long and complex process, which requires a lot of effort and a lot of work.
We are not looking for a shortcut on this path,” she explained.
An expected visit to kyiv
It remains to be seen whether Emmanuel Macron will go to Ukraine?
This long-awaited visit for weeks, France currently holds and until the end of June the rotating presidency of the European Union, could soon take place in the company of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi according to media in Berlin and Roma.
But for the time being, the Elysée has clarified that "nothing has been recorded".
