The French withdrawal begins following the Americans

(BRUSSELS2) Nearly 200 French soldiers, mainly legionnaires from the 2nd REP (the foreign parachute regiment of the Foreign Legion), are leaving Afghanistan. This decision was officially announced today. This is the first French withdrawal made in this Asian country. By the end of 2012, France will withdraw approximately 1 men out of 000 committed on the spot.

An American decision followed by France

This withdrawal is carried out in a vast movement - more or less concerted between allies - triggered by the American decision to withdraw, as confirmed by the Minister of Defense, Gérard Longuet, this morning on France Inter. " This is the will of the President of the Republic. (...) The United States withdrew. We make a proportional withdrawal ". But for the Minister, this withdrawal is also possible because the Afghan army is there. And to praise his good behavior. " Why is this possible. Because the sectors are transferred to the Afghan army which has a reality on the ground and assumes the security function ».

4 waves for the first disengagement by the end of 2012

These 200 men will be followed by others in 4 waves if we are to believe the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Guillaud, who had detailed the schedule recently during a hearing at the National Assembly. " This will begin, from the end of this month, with a combat company and its support, ie 200 men. By December, another 200 men will return, taking into account the needs of the coalition. We will reduce our workforce by a further tranche next March and we will complete our partial withdrawal during the second half of 2012. »

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