France’s Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin has said that French troops in Romania will not be downsized following an announcement from the US to decrease its troops in Romania and other NATO Allies.
During a visit to the NATO member bordering Ukraine, French Minister Vautrin said that France remains committed “to the collective defense of the European continent.” The presence of 1,500 French troops in Romania was an expression of France’s commitment, she said.
“The French Armed Forces are present in Romania, at the heart of the Eastern flank, in an international security context which is (…) very deteriorated,” she said during a joint press conference with Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu.
“They embody our concrete commitment… for the security of Romania, for the security of Europe, and for the security of France and the French people,” she added.
“France’s commitment is “not temporary” but “long-term and based on trust… This message of stability is key for our Romanian friends as well as for the entire eastern flank,” she added.
Mosteanu said his country would acquire Mistral 3 surface-to-air missiles “under a contract to be signed by the end of this year” as part of the European Joint Acquisition Initiative led by France.
That would be worth 660 million euros, excluding tax, according to a defense ministry official.
France has been participating in NATO’s Dacian Fall military exercise in Romania since October 20. The exercise “is a clear signal that we want to send together: Europe is ready,” Vautrin said. It is “further proof of the European allies’ commitment to the security of Romania, the Black Sea and the eastern flank,” said Mosteanu.
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