France boosts NATO's eastern defense with strategic deployment

Paris is making a concerted effort to become a leader amongst the European states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This ambition is highlighted by the announcement to bolster the alliance's eastern flank. The plans were revealed at the end of February by the deputy commander of the Multinational Division South-East, Gen. Loïc Girard.

By 2025, the number of allied forces in Romania, particularly French forces, is expected to rise. Paris intends to deploy forces to the east, capable of forming a full brigade equipped with roughly 50 Leclerc main battle tanks and self-propelled CAESAR howitzers of 155 mm caliber. The French decision should be met with cautious optimism, as the large presence of military personnel will be temporary and related to planned exercises.

Soldiers from Belgium, Luxembourg, and other NATO member states will also join. The NATO Battle Group in Cincu, established in May 2022 – shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began – will be upgraded to a brigade level and receive an additional 37 Leclerc tanks. Increasing the size of the battle group is a primary focus for Bucharest, with the final decision to be made at this year's NATO summit in Washington in July.

There are already over 1,500 soldiers from the multinational battalion battle group in Cincu, located in the Brasov district. This confirms France's long-term military commitment in Romania and its role in defending NATO's eastern flank. In total, about 6,061 NATO forces are stationed on Romanian soil. Two thousand of these are Americans, present under separate intergovernmental agreements.

France leads this multinational battle group, fielding the largest contingent of about 700 soldiers equipped with CAESAR artillery systems, multiple rocket launchers, VBCI infantry fighting vehicles, 120-mm mortars, and VAB armored vehicles. The group also includes a SAMP/T Mamba medium-range air and missile defense system battery, equipped with Aster-30 surface-to-air missiles and an Arabel radar.

In the spring, over 3,000 soldiers and several hundred armored vehicles will be transported from France, taking about ten days. The Armée de terre plans to bring Griffon VBMR armored carriers and Jaguar EBRC wheeled reconnaissance vehicles among others, transporting an average of five tanks per day. Additional forces will be stationed in Cincu, which is being prepared to accommodate the new soldiers. Construction work has begun there round-the-clock to provide infrastructure for exercises and temporary barracks.

The primary goal of the French initiative is to practice troop deployment and develop rapid transportation methods in Europe. After the exercises, the soldiers will return home. The decision to increase NATO troops in Romania is in response to the geopolitical situation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Adjusting Romanian legislation, currently restrictive towards training foreign military on its soil, remains a separate issue.

Significant attention is being paid to the largest deployment of Leclerc tanks outside France since exercises in 2002 in Ukraine. France is modernizing 160 Leclerc tanks to the XLR standard to improve their availability, expected to reach 62% this year, up from 33% last year. The high availability rate was proven during peacekeeping in Kosovo, where the tanks achieved a 95% rate.

France views the Leclerc tanks with pride, modernizing them as part of the SCORPION program. The aim is to enhance the combat potential of the French land forces. Initially, the modernization of 200 tanks and 18 support vehicles was expected by 2030, but doubts about feasibility and tank numbers have led to a revised goal of modernizing 160 tanks by 2029.

In 2023, French tank crews were to receive 18 Leclerc XLRs. Two test models were delivered in June 2022, but only the first modernized vehicle arrived at the 501st Tank Regiment in Mourmelon-le-Grand in November 2023. The failure to deliver all 18 promoted units by the end of the year was a disappointment. In response, in February, the French Directorate General for Armament (DGA) announced an expansion of the modernization to include PASEO family optoelectronic viewing and targeting systems for the gunner and commander.

The French are adapting to challenges. In May, soldiers from the 2nd company of the 501st Tank Regiment will test the Leclercs in the United Arab Emirates' desert. By spring 2025, a significant number of XLR variant tanks might be in service, potentially being sent to another testing ground, which could be within Romania.