Some 600 French soldiers deployed as part of NATO’s battle group in Romania conducted a combat exercise to test the alliance’s readiness on its eastern flank against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
About 200 units of military equipment are involved in the drills at the training ground near the town of Smardan in eastern Romania, including four French Leclerc battle tanks, which practiced live fire.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense said the main objective of the exercises was to prepare the battle group “for rapid deployment and a combat mission” as part of NATO’s collective defense operation.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he had asked the defense minister to “work” on the possibility of sending Leclerc tanks, the same model used in the exercise, to Ukraine.
About 200 units of military equipment are involved in the drills at the training ground near the town of Smardan in eastern Romania, including four French Leclerc battle tanks, which practiced live fire.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense said the main objective of the exercises was to prepare the battle group “for rapid deployment and a combat mission” as part of NATO’s collective defense operation.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he had asked the defense minister to “work” on the possibility of sending Leclerc tanks, the same model used in the exercise, to Ukraine.
