French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that France would send troops to Romania as part of NATO operations to ensure the security of the eastern alliance states, according to Romania-Insider.
The statement comes amid a security crisis on NATO’s eastern flank.
„We have sent troops to ensure the security of our European partners in NATO missions, to our friends in the Baltic area and we will continue to do so,” said Macron.
„We have shown our readiness to move forward within NATO, to engage in new missions and to take responsibility for enhanced advanced presence missions, especially in Romania. Solidarity with our European friends in NATO,” added Macron.
The announcement of the French President, made in a speech in front of the military in Haguenau (Alsace) comes at a time of maximum tension in Eastern Europe, where Russia has massed more than 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine.
„I warmly welcome President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of France’s readiness to participate in NATO’s strengthened military presence in Romania. The Romania-France strategic partnership will be strengthened on the eastern flank of the Black Sea region,” Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis wrote on Twitter, on Thursday.
The Kremlin has formally called on NATO member states to withdraw troops from eastern member states, including Romania.