France is consolidating its presence on NATO’s eastern flank, and the French army – after announcing in October that it was deploying armored infantry vehicles and Leclerc tanks to Romania – is deploying four Rafale jets to Lithuania from Friday to carry out missions. to protect the airspace of the Baltic countries, BFMTV reports, News.ro reports.

The planes, which take off from Mont-de-Marsan, “will carry out missions to protect the airspace of the Baltic countries,” the French defense ministry announced to BFMTV earlier this week.

According to the ministry, the deployment of the four Rafale aircraft is part of NATO’s “enhanced air surveillance (eAP)” mission.

Its purpose is to guarantee “the integrity of the Baltic airspace and the sovereignty of the various states that do not have the necessary capabilities to do so on their own.”

France is to send reinforcements to Estonia

This is not the first time since the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine that Paris is consolidating its presence in Eastern Europe.

“A reinforced light infantry company is to be deployed in Estonia in 2023 and will be equipped with Griffon-type vehicles, representing approximately 100 additional personnel,” the French defense ministry announced two weeks ago.

Currently, about 300 French soldiers are stationed in Estonia as part of NATO.