“The 14th of July ceremony is an opportunity for the French Detachment to demonstrate that France is a strong and loyal NATO Ally. Here at the Rukla military barracks in Lithuania, we are joined by our comrades from others European nations to proudly celebrate our national day by raising our three-color flag high. Starting from tomorrow we will soon be cooperating collectively in exercises with the aim to develop and strengthen our interoperability with the eFP multinational Battle Group. Our commitment here is that France stands alongside its Allies. The eFP Battle Group’s motto, “Stronger Together” is also the spirit of our 14th of July,” Chief of the French Detachment in the eFP Lieutenant Colonel (OF4) Yannick Prigent said.
Hoisting the national tri-colour to the tunes of La Marseillaise – that is how the French contingent celebrated the national day of France – Bastille Day – while deployed as part of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania. When the French contingent will be fully integrated with the rest of the eFP in late July, the unit will be fully ready to take part in exercises and training of the NATO eFP in Lithuania. Formal inauguration of the French contingent is scheduled in Rukla for late July.
This is the fourth contingent that France deploys to contribute to the implementation the NATO deterrence and defence measures in the Baltic states.
The French contingent is composed of nearly 300 soldiers, roughly 200 of them as a mechanized infantry company, and 100 soldiers will manage logistic and administration affairs. The French troops will serve as one of the NATO eFP maneuver companies, in combat support units, and in the NATO eFP Lithuania HQ.
The first portion of the French Tactical Component deployed in Lithuania in early July. The troops and equipment are deployed from the 5th Dragoon Regiment located in Mailly le Camp and equipped with the best assets in the French Army, a battalion well-adapted with the relevant knowledge to conduct the training period within the NATO eFP Lithuania.
Like all the other eFP contingents, the French soldiers brought their combat, logistical and administrative equipment. The maneuver unit will be serving with Leclerc main battle tanks and VBCI infantry fighting vehicles.
All soldiers currently present in Lithuania have been tested before landing and all have been declared negative for COVID-19.
The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania has the total strength of over 1,200 soldiers. The incoming French troops will replace Croatian colleagues.
The most consequential security assurance that Lithuania received in the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016 was the collective Alliance decision to form enhanced Forward Presence forces for the Baltic states and Poland as of 2017. An element of the overall NATO posture, the eFP is designed to clearly show NATO allies’ solidarity, resolve, and ability to as act as one immediately in responding collectively to any aggression. NATO Heads of States and Governments adopted the decision as a reaction to the Russian aggression in Ukraine and changes in the geopolitical situation. Formation of the enhanced Forward Presence signals of All9ance solidarity and puts into practice the concept of reliable deterrence and defence. France has already rotated troops to the eFP in Lithuania in 2017 and 2018.
Photo credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces
