TechFrance bolsters NATO's eastern flank with major troop deployment in Romania
France bolsters NATO's eastern flank with major troop deployment in Romania
Paris is intensifying its efforts to become a leader among the European nations within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with a clear focus on strengthening the alliance's eastern flank. This commitment was highlighted at the end of February by Gen. Loïc Girard, the deputy commander of the Multinational Division South-East.
9:44 AM EDT, March 16, 2024
By 2025, an increase in allied forces, particularly French forces, is expected in Romania. France aims to deploy forces to the east, including a full brigade equipped with approximately fifty Leclerc main battle tanks and CAESAR self-propelled howitzers of 155 mm caliber. However, caution is advised as the presence of such a significant number of military personnel will be temporary, linked to scheduled exercises.
Additional support will be provided by soldiers from Belgium, Luxembourg, and other NATO member states. The NATO Battle Group in Cincu, Romania, established in May 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is set to be upgraded to a brigade level. This enhancement will include an additional 37 Leclerc tanks, with a primary focus on increasing the group's numerical strength. This decision, anticipated to be finalized at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington in July, is particularly significant for Bucharest.
France's long-term military commitment to Romania and to defending NATO's eastern flank is evidenced by the presence of more than 1,500 soldiers from the multinational battalion battle group in Cincu, Brasov district. Total NATO forces stationed on Romanian soil are approximately 6,061, including 2,000 Americans under distinct intergovernmental agreements.
Leading this multinational battle group, France boasts the largest contingent, approximately 700 strong, equipped with CAESAR artillery systems, multiple rocket launchers, VBCI infantry fighting vehicles, 120-millimeter mortars, and VAB armored vehicles. They are further supported by a SAMP/T Mamba medium-range air and missile defense system, equipped with Aster-30 surface-to-air missiles and Arabel radar.
In the coming spring, France plans to transport over 3,000 soldiers and several hundred armored vehicles from its homeland. The Armee de terre is likely to include Griffon VBMR armored carriers, Jaguar EBRC wheeled reconnaissance vehicles, and possibly specialized Griffon-based engineering or self-propelled mortar vehicles. The process of transporting these resources to Romania is expected to take about ten days, with an average of five tanks moved per day. Additional forces will be stationed in Cincu, where infrastructure and barracks are being developed to accommodate the new soldiers and facilitate exercises.
The primary aim of this French initiative is to hone the deployment of troops and develop efficient soldier transportation methods within Europe. After completing the exercises, the soldiers will return to their home countries. This increase in NATO forces in Romania responds to the geopolitical situation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with a focus on adjusting Romanian legislation to accommodate the training of foreign military forces.
Significant is the deployment of Leclerc main battle tanks outside France, the largest since exercises in Ukraine in 2002. France is modernizing its Leclerc tanks to the XLR standard under the SCORPION program, aiming to boost the combat effectiveness of its land forces. While ambitious plans are set, realities may adjust expectations, with a current focus on modernizing 160 tanks by 2029, reduced from an initial goal of 200 tanks and support vehicles.
By 2023, French tank crews were to receive eighteen Leclerc XLRs, with the first modernized vehicle delivered to the 501st Tank Regiment in November 2023. Despite challenges, including delayed delivery of the anticipated units, the modernization effort is expanding, including the addition of optoelectronic observing and aiming devices.
In a move to adapt, French soldiers from the 501st Tank Regiment will test the Leclerc tanks in the United Arab Emirates' desert environment in May. Looking to the spring of 2025, the hope is for a significantly larger fleet of XLR variant tanks, ready for further testing, potentially on Romanian terrain.
