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Minister Sklenár: The NATO battlegroup in our territory is a show of force, unity and commitment to defend Slovakia as an ally against any threat

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

26.06.2023

Defence Minister Martin Sklenár paid a visit to the Training Centre (TC) Lešť, where he was given a tour of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia and spoke with soldiers who have brought new capabilities to the Battlegroup, including Leopard 2A6 MBTs, as part of the latest rotational deployments. He took a real interest in the performance of the Battlegroup's tasks and training activities and the state of infrastructure and standard military accommodation. The latter has seen some great improvement thanks to the construction of a container city.

Speaking of Slovakia hosting Allied forces on rotation, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: "Throughout June, we have welcomed a new rotation of soldiers along with equipment. They have brought with them capabilities that complement the range of weapons used by our armed forces, thereby increasing our readiness and defence responsiveness, for which we are extremely grateful. In the Alliance, each such Battlegroup writes its own story. Yet together, we form collective defence. And we are determined and ready to defend every inch of Allied territory."

Minister Sklenár also underlined the fact that the countries contributing to the battalion-sized force have helped Slovakia become a better prepared ally. SVK service personnel have gained valuable experience in the field of command and control (C2) and communications. As he explained, the Bundeswehr's Leopard 2A6 tanks that have replaced the German Contingent's Boxer wheeled infantry fighting vehicles are the Battlegroup's most significant reinforcement.

Some 1,000 military personnel are currently serving with NATO MN BG SVK. The Czech Republic is leading the way as a Framework Nation (FN) for the Battlegroup, which is comprised of troops from Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany and the United States of America. Other Allies have also shown interest in joining the Battlegroup and strengthening our security. The mandate of the SVK Parliament allows for up to 3,000 soldiers to be stationed in Slovakia.