French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Locornu announced that his country will strengthen its military presence on the eastern flank of NATO by deploying armored infantry corps and "Leclerc" tanks in Romania and reinforcements in Estonia in the coming weeks.
Minister Locorno said, during a hearing before the Senate Defense Committee, that President Emmanuel Macron's decision to "strengthen our defense posture on the eastern side of Europe" was taken in light of the situation in NATO's eastern flank and heavy fighting in Ukraine.
France leads the NATO mission in Romania, which currently includes 350 French soldiers, in addition to Belgian and Dutch forces.
Paris is preparing to double its workforce on the ground in November, according to a military source, by deploying 12 armored vehicles and 12 Leclerc tanks.
The Minister of Armies added that his country will continue to strengthen its defense position in Lithuania by deploying Rafale combat aircraft to provide air security, and in Estonia, where an enhanced infantry company of light forces will be deployed in 2023 equipped with Griffon vehicles, estimated at an additional 100 elements.
Currently, about 300 French soldiers are stationed in Estonia as part of NATO.