Historically, France’s policies in the Black Sea region were more of a side effect of its EU enlargement, Russia, or Middle East policies. Its engagement was more ad hoc than calculated. But, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Paris changed its approach drastically. It is now active multilaterally through the EU, NATO, and the UN, and bilaterally with Black Sea countries, backing their energy diversification away from Russia and investing in Moldova and Ukraine, among other things. France leads NATO’s Cincu-based multinational battle group (Mission Aigle) in Romania, with a contingent that was increased from 1,500 to 4,000 soldiers earlier this year. Paris has also deployed a MAMBA air-defense battery to the country’s Black Sea coast, contributing to the policing of its airspace.
France’s Shift to Long-Term Engagement in the Black Sea | German Marshall Fund of the United States
