France will send additional troops and equipment to Romania

RADIO ROMANIA NEWS - France will send, at the beginning of next month at the latest, additional troops and equipment to Romania to strengthen NATO's eastern flank, in the face of the Russian threat, given the latest developments in the war in Ukraine.

The announcement was made this evening by the French Minister of Defense, Sebastian Lecornu, as RRA correspondent Daniela Coman reported from Paris: "The French Minister of Defense spoke about sending a company to Romania, which generally consists of 100 to 250 soldiers. The decision was taken last night by President Emmanuel Macron, at the proposal of the Chief of Staff of the Army, said Minister Sebastian Lecornu, during a hearing at the French Senate on the state budget for next year.

Sebastian Lecornu: "The president of the republic decided to strengthen our defensive positions on the eastern flank of Europe, by deploying a reinforced company of armored infantry fighting vehicles in Romania, as well as a squadron of Leclerc tanks. Therefore, we continue, within the mission of defense, deterrence and protection of the eastern flank, to support these countries to whom we owe solidarity, especially Romania, a friend. We also continued to strengthen our presence in Lithuania, where Rafale fighter jets will be deployed, and in Estonia, where a company of light infantry will also be deployed."

The new French troops will arrive in Eastern Europe shortly, at the end of October-beginning of November, the Minister of Defense also stated. Since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, 750 French soldiers have been sent to Romania.

Translated by: Radu Matei