“We are going there to defend the eastern flank of Europe”
250 soldiers from the 27th BCa from Cran-Gevrier to Annecy are leaving for Romania from this Monday afternoon. They will be integrated into NATO with 250 other soldiers after the invasion of neighboring Ukraine by Russia. On France Bleu Pays de Savoie, General Vincent Minguet, corps commander of the 27th BCA explains that he expects to fulfill several missions in Romania, from assistance to refugees, to combat missions.
What will be your missions on site in Romania?
General Vincent Minguet: We are going there to defend France and the French and for that France is fulfilling its responsibilities within NATO, one of the foundations of which is strategic solidarity. We will be there to reassure our partners and strengthen the defense on the eastern flank of Europe. We are able to react to any change in the situation. At first, we are not completely and not directly involved, but we are concerned.
How long are you going on a mission?
I don’t know at all, we’ll see. We left with three infantry companies from the 27th BCA, soldiers capable of disembarking on foot, a squadron of cavalry with assault tanks. I will also have a company of Belgian lancers who are infantry. And on the spot, within an international brigade, we will have reinforcements of artillery, intelligence, engineers, and other components allowing us to carry out a full combat if the situation requires it.
Will you be responsible for transporting weapons sent by European countries to Ukraine?
We are preparing for a whole range of missions and the spectrum is wide. This ranges from assistance missions to the population, possibly with the evacuation of nationals, to heavier armed combat missions. We are ready for all these missions.
Are other French soldiers going to Estonia, a NATO member country bordering Russia for the same type of mission?
In Estonia, it is a reassurance mission on the flank of the Baltic countries. It is a reinforcement of the existing mission whereas in Romania, it is a new mission.
Have you been waiting for the last few weeks to be mobilized?
For a month, we were on alert, until we were ready to be deployed within 24 hours, which is now the case.