From our special correspondent in Constanta
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The exchanges are agreed but individual.
Emmanuel Macron questions morale, asks some technical questions.
On the MK base, where he has just arrived on Tuesday, June 14 at the end of the day, the Head of State methodically meets the soldiers, one by one, in a large open hangar, where he is presented with the different facets of Operation Aigle: there an AMX 10 RC armored vehicle, there engineering, there the MAMBA anti-aircraft defense system.
The exercise seems mechanical for the Head of State.
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France is the
“framework nation”
for this NATO mission, triggered as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It testifies to the solidarity between allies and concretizes the reinforcement of military means on the eastern flank of Europe.
500 French soldiers and 300 Belgians are deployed near the port of Constanta and further west in Cincu.
For this trip to a country bordering Ukraine, where he has not yet been since the start of the conflict, the President of the Republic is accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, the Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and again from the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Thierry Burkhard.
After his rounds, the Chief of the Armed Forces addresses the men in front of him, microphone in hand.
This is not the time for strong positions or chiseled statements on the war in Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron seems rather there to take the pulse of the French presence in Romania.
He improvises without momentum.
He dwells on various thanks, insists on the feeling of pride.
"What you have shown, by applying NATO measures in an unprecedented way, is part of France's credibility, of the confidence that our allies and our partners have in us
," he said.
"No one knows what the next few months will bring"
Since the beginning of the year, France has assumed command of the Alliance Response Force (NRF).
She was able to send in a few days a first detachment in Romania to reinforce the defenses of the country.
Never has France been so committed to NATO missions.
Emmanuel Macron greets the allied partners of France, Belgians and Americans in particular.
On Wednesday, he is to meet with Romanian President Iohannis.
Then he will go to Moldova.
Read alsoIn Romania, the presence of French soldiers is expected to last several years
The war monopolizes his time.
"No one can say what the next few months will give
," warns the president.
The Head of State summarizes his objectives in the conflict: to stop the Russian war effort, to support Ukraine, to continue to negotiate.
The soldiers listen silently.
We don't applaud in the military.
At the end of the exchange, Emmanuel Macron slips away for an operational briefing with the mission's staff.
This must now be established over time.
The discussion, behind closed doors, continues.
Then in the large room set up for dinner, the soldiers begin to turn in circles.
Then the president arrives to share the evening tray: polenta, stuffed cabbage and donut with jam.
Before starting to dine, the soldiers want to share with their host the tradition of “dust”.
Orders are given aloud before the toast is given.
Hands on the goblet, goblet to the lips and then dust… The president bends to tradition.
Before leaving, after dinner, he still poses for a few photos.
In the absence of being able to say more about the sequence of events and the Ukrainian conflict, it is necessary to unite with the troop.