French defence minister in Romania for Dacian Fall 25
Romania and Bulgaria are hosting the NATO multinational exercise Dacian Fall 25 until November 13
Agenția Media a Armatei, 05.11.2025, 13:40
Romania and Bulgaria are hosting the NATO multinational exercise Dacian Fall 25 until November 13. The exercise is led by the Multinational Division Command South-East in Bucharest and is the final stage of a process by which the NATO battle group under French command in our country is raised to brigade level. Over 5,000 troops from 10 NATO states take part in the training. France has the largest participation, and for this reason, the French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Catherine Vautrin, was present in Romania, in her first visit abroad since taking office.
The French official met in Sibiu with the Romanian defence minister, Ionuț Moșteanu, and discussed security in the Black Sea region, France’s contribution to strengthening NATO’s posture on the eastern flank and bilateral cooperation in support of collective defence.
“I share my pride in the presence and commitment of our troops in Romania. The French armed forces are in the heart of the eastern flank, in a complicated international security context, which is deteriorating greatly. That is why, since 2022, we have been present here. France is thus the framework nation in Romania, in this reassurance mission called Operation Aigle-Eagle. And in this framework, nearly 1,500 troops are deployed, men and women. They reflect France’s concrete commitment to the collective defence of the European continent, to the security of Romania, to the security of Europe and, therefore, to the security of France and the French people,” Catherine Vautrin said.
The French and the Romanian defence ministers visited the military contingents deployed at the National Joint Training Centre in Cincu, where part of the Allied training within Dacian Fall 25 takes place. The exercise is, according to the French official, a sign of the consolidation of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture: “Through the scope of the Dacian Fall exercise, through its dimensions, through the capabilities deployed and through the interoperability between the various means involved, we are sending a clear signal together: Europe is ready. And when I talk about Europe, I certainly do not forget our Belgian, Spanish and Luxembourgish colleagues, who are with us on Romanian territory, within the battle group. With a temporary addition of 2,400 troops to the 1,500 already present, and with logistics that have allowed us to expand to brigade level, France is fully participating in this exercise.”
Catherine Vautrin also mentioned the historic partnership between France and Romania. France’s commitment to the region is not just a momentary one, but a long-term one, based on trust, in the service of collective security, the French defence minister also said: “History has created, over decades, I would even say centuries, a relationship of trust that continues to thrive today through a partnership in all areas. I welcome the announcement of the future procurement of Mistral systems, which will strengthen Romania’s and the Alliance’s security, possibly with European funding. We are engaged in a constant, renewed and progressive dialogue, listening to and respecting the needs of each country. The French commitment is not temporary, it is a long-term commitment, based on trust. France remains a reliable partner for you, present on the ground, in the service of collective security. This message of stability is essential both for our Romanian allies and for the entire eastern flank.”
The training stages of Dacian Fall 25 take place simultaneously in the Cincu, Smârdan (east), Capu Midia (southeast), Babadag (east), and Cârțișoara (center) training ranges in Romania and Novo Selo in Bulgaria. The Romanian Defense Ministry says that NATO exercises, including Dacian Fall, are defensive and fully comply with the international obligations and rules that Romania has undertaken. (AMP)
