Romanians aboard Takuba, Italians on their way slowly (v2)
(B2) A contingent of 45 people will be sent by Romania to the special forces task force deployed in the Malian Liptako
The Romanian Parliament approved on Wednesday (16.06) the participation in the mission of special forces in Mali, under French command, by “ 346 votes 'for', 2 'against' and 2 abstentions » indicates the agency AgerPress. This follows the green light approved, unanimously, by the Defense Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate meeting on Tuesday (15.06).
Arrival in the 4th quarter of 2021
According to the report approved by Parliament, and read by B2, Bucharest will provide a contingent of up to 50 personnel (45 according to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces) from the fourth quarter of 2021 “ in the Liptako region, at the confluence of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso (what is called the zone of the three borders). The financing will be provided from the budget of the armies for 2021, it is specified in Bucharest.
A politico-military challenge for Romania
This participation of the Romanian army “will contribute to maintaining its operational profile “indicates the letter from the President of the Republic. NB: the withdrawal of the NATO mission in Afghanistan leaves the (land) forces especially in the absence of a significant operating area. Other motivations put forward: that will bring increased international visibility to our country, as well as significant benefits, politically and politico-military, vis-à-vis France »
Good news
For Paris, it's a real relief. As soon as the news became known, the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, tweeted: “ The mobilization of Europeans in the Sahel continues. Thanks to our Romanian friends for their commitment. " The " taskforce which brings together European special forces to carry out counter-terrorism operations with the Malian armies as the minister defines it, finds a bit of air.
A mobilization that is struggling to be done
Indeed, only three countries are actually taking part in the operation today (Estonia, Czechia and Sweden). Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as Germany and Spain, politely said 'No'. Only a few staff officers were sent from Brussels and The Hague.
Lithuania next on the list
The hopes of an additional workforce are therefore now turning more towards Vilnius, with the dispatch of a Lithuanian detachment, a kind of counterpart to the French commitment in the surveillance of the Baltic air (Baltic Air Policy). Serbia is also often mentioned. But Belgrade observes (since the Yugoslav wars) a policy of strict neutrality and cannot engage combat forces outside its borders. The Serbs are however very active at the international level, but they participate by sending medical or support teams, they thus systematically provide a medical team to EUTM training missions (in Somalia, in particular).
Waiting for the Italians
Italy decided to participate almost a year ago. But the implementation is dragging on. A first reconnaissance detachment arrived in the spring. Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini visited them on May 20. Eventually, a contingent of 200 men, 20 land vehicles and 8 helicopters in the Sahel should be committed. Their arrival is imminent, they say in Rome. Paris is waiting impatiently: this reinforcement, the most important in Europe, would give a real breath of fresh air to Takuba. It will be operational in the summer promises the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
Clarifications given on the Italian contingent.
