Eurasia Press & News
France will strengthen the presence of its military in Eastern Europe after Russia’s recent strikes against Ukrainian civilians, Armed Force Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Wednesday.
The decision was taken Monday evening at the Defence Council convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and based on the proposal of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Thierry Burkhard.
Macron decided to “enhance our defensive posture on the eastern flank of Europe”, reported Lecornu, due to “the situation on the eastern flank of NATO” and the ongoing violence in Ukraine.
France will deploy “a reinforced company of armoured infantry fighting vehicles in Romania, as well as a squadron of Leclerc tanks”, while Rafale aircraft will be sent to Lithuania and a light infantry company to Estonia.
Leclerc tanks, worth about €10 million each, can resist most rockets and have guns with a 4,000 metres range. Because they can only be moved by road or rail transport, deployment should begin at the end of October.
Lecornu, who also addressed senators on Tuesday, announced that the budget for 2023 would amount to €44 billion, a 7% increase compared to 2022.
Further details about the decision will be revealed Thursday (13 October) at the meeting of NATO defence ministers.
