The Romanian parliament gave its backing to a new battle group on Romanian soil that would be composed of allied forces from NATO, signaling a visible step in reinforcing regional defense cooperation. The information came through reporting by DEA News, citing the national news agency Agerpres as the source for the development.
In a vote described as decisive, the General Assembly of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate approved the measure with a wide margin, tallying 309 votes in favor and only 5 against. The plan paints the unit as a multi-national formation led by France, reinforcing the alliance’s operational posture on the eastern flank and promising a higher level of interoperability among member states. The decision underlines Romania’s commitment to contributing to collective defense initiatives and to maintaining a credible deterrent alongside its closest partners in the region.
Earlier, President Klaus Iohannis addressed lawmakers, urging approval of the initiative with a focus on strengthening NATO’s strategic reach and readiness. In his remarks, the president stressed that establishing a NATO combat group within Romania would augment the alliance’s defensive capabilities, support the long-term strategic partnership with France, and facilitate deeper defense collaboration with Belgium and the Netherlands. The president framed the move as a practical step toward operational credibility, capable of enhancing joint training, logistics, intelligence sharing, and rapid response planning across allied forces stationed in the area.
This development comes on the heels of public disclosures about the ongoing deployment of NATO’s extended forward presence along the border with Ukraine. Romania has welcomed elements of the French force package to bolster deterrence and reassurance in the region. The French contingent is reported to include 13 Leclerc main battle tanks, 20 wheeled armored personnel carriers, and roughly 700 personnel, underscoring a tangible, combined-armed presence that is intended to support allied defense objectives and ensure a faster, coordinated response to evolving security challenges at the frontier. The broader aim is to demonstrate solidarity among NATO members, maintain readiness, and demonstrate a unified approach to regional security through a capable and visibly deployed force presence.