France will deploy additional forces to strengthen NATO's defensive posture in Eastern Europe, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu told lawmakers, CNN reported.

According to him, French President Emmanuel Macron made the decision to deploy on Monday night. He said France will send one reinforced company of armored personnel carriers to Romania, as well as a squadron of Charles Leclerc tanks. France has taken the lead in the NATO presence in Romania, where some 750 soldiers are already deployed.

The minister also pointed to the additional deployment of Rafale fighters in Lithuania, as well as the deployment of a reinforced light infantry company in Estonia. He said the force would be in place by late October or early November.

France has already provided two Rafale jets and an auxiliary aircraft for the NATO air defense mission in Poland and about 300 soldiers in Estonia.