8 November 2016, 20:54 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — France will deploy 300 military personnel and 5 Leclerc main battle tanks, as well as infantry combat vehicles to Estonia in 2017, Estonian Defense Ministry said Saturday in a statement.
"[French Defense Minister] Jean-Yves Le Drian assured [Estonian Defense Minister] Hannes Hanso that Paris would send to Estonia 300 soldiers, five Leclerc main battle tanks and infantry combat vehicles next year," the ministry's statement said.
The two defense chiefs met on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum, currently underway in Canada, where top military leaders, experts and journalists discuss security issues.
The NATO military alliance declared at a July summit it would move forces to Poland and the three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The UK pledged in October to send additional 800 soldiers to Estonia as well as tanks, drones and armored vehicles.
