French troops to exercise in Poland

Defence Ministers Tomasz Siemoniak (R) and Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) following their bilateral meeting in Warsaw, 25.11.2014 Photo: PAP/Jakub Kamiński

The military maneuvers are part of a plan to strengthen the NATO alliance in the region, and is seen as a response to the growing crisis in Ukraine.

“In the coming weeks we will send an armored unit that will conduct exercises on the territory of Poland,” French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a joint news conference with Polish counterpart Tomasz Siemoniak in Warsaw.

In mid-November Polish Foreign-Affairs Minister Grzegorz Schetyna spoke about “joining forces with France,” in an agreement similar to the Wiemar Triangle.

Poland has also struck a deal with the UK for training exercises involving 1,300 troops.

This week France has halted the delivery “until further notice” of a helicopter carrier to the Russian navy. The French president's office has cited the Ukrainian conflict as a reason behid the decision. (rg/jb)

Source: PAP