SLOVCON in Latvia is a valuable contribution to NATO's collective defence

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď and Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko joined Slovak President and Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces Zuzana Čaputová and her delegation in visiting Slovak military personnel deployed on NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Latvia. The aim of the official trip was to show support and solidarity with Latvia and other Allies, as well to highlight the role of the Slovak contingent (SLOVCON) in NATO's eFP.

Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Under the influence of the events that have been happening in the region, it is important to demonstrate unity and firmness of the transatlantic bond. In this respect, the Slovak contingent is a valuable contribution to the Alliance's collective defence and I can say SVK Armed Forces personnel are earning a good name for Slovakia.” Mr Naď chatted with our soldiers and took a keen interest in different aspects of their deployment, conditions and tasks ahead of them at Camp Ādaži.

Speaking of the serving SLOVCON members, Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko said: “Our soldiers on the current rotation to Latvia demonstrated their military excellence and professionalism as early as during their movement to the Baltics. While en route to Latvia, they stopped to take part in a joint exercise alongside their Polish and American colleagues in Poland. I am firmly convinced that, here in Latvia, they will build on the successes of their predecessors.”

SLOVCON, based in Camp Ādaži, provides an artillery element for the Canadian-led NATO eFP Battle Group Latvia. It seeks to assure defence and deterrence on the Alliance's eastern flank, while demonstrating its readiness to respond to potential threats in accordance with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, meaning that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies.

In December 2021, 1 Artillery Fire Battery Michalovce, involving 135 artillerymen and 9 advanced Zuzana II Self-propelled Gun Howitzers, deployed to Latvia as the fifth rotation of soldiers to take part in NATO's enhanced Forward Presence.

The NATO eFP Battle Group Latvia forms part of the most extensive strengthening of NATO's collective defence today. Slovakia has been involved in the NATO-allied forward-deployed military force in Latvia since 2018. SVK Parliament has mandated the continuation of the SVK operational deployment to Latvia well until the end of the Mission.