French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin told a press conference in Sibiu on Thursday that France will keep in Romania the existing troop levels established within the North Atlantic Alliance, pointing out that the force has been increased in the recent period.

Asked by journalists whether France will enhance its military presence in Romania, Vautrin said that the number of troops in Romania has been increased, and France keeps its military deployment as the number already established within the Alliance.

Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of the French Republic, Catherine Vautrin, had a meeting on Thursday with National Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu.

The Romanian minister was also asked if there are talks underway for the deployment of European troops to replace the American force that will be leaving Romania, and he replied that NATO's defense strategy continues to evolve in response to new realities, and three and a half years into the Ukraine war, the U.S. partners have acknowledged Europe's commitment to strengthening national armed forces and military capabilities. As part of a broader strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. sees that Europe's defense posture has improved, Mosteanu went on to say, pointing out that close cooperation with allies remains ongoing, particularly with the United States and France, as Romania currently hosts over 1,300 permanent French troops, with more than 3,000 deployed at present.

The American forces at the Deveselu and Campia Turzii bases remain unchanged, the only change being made at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base, where a rotational brigade will no longer be deployed, Defense Minister Mosteanu announced on Wednesday.

The United States will withdraw a part of its troops deployed on NATO's eastern flank, leaving around 1,000 soldiers in the three bases in Romania. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Isabela Paulescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)