PARIS

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Tuesday that Paris will deploy tanks and armored vehicles with military units to countries on the eastern flank of Europe to strengthen its military presence in NATO.

Speaking to lawmakers, Lecornu said French President Emmanuel Macron took the decision to deploy armored vehicles and Leclerc-type tanks to Romania, taking into account the situation in NATO's eastern flank and the severity of the conflict in Ukraine.

Lecornu added that France will also deploy Rafale warplanes to Lithuania and infantry units to Estonia.

After Russia launched a war in Ukraine, smaller countries in the region have been on the edge about a possible expansion of the Russian offensive and are looking toward their Western allies for assistance.