One year of Russia's aggression against Ukraine: NATO Multinational Battlegroup strengthens Slovakia's defence capability
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- Date: 23.02.2023
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In response to Russia's unprecedented steps of engaging in military aggression against Ukraine, the North Atlantic Alliance has significantly scaled up Eastern Flank defence. Thanks to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia (NATO MN BG SVK), this defensive umbrella has reinforced Slovakia's defence capability. Since March 2022, nearly 2,000 Allied troops, including SVK military personnel, have rotated on NATO duties in the country.
Speaking of the Battlegroup's role, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The aim of this Allied reinforcement is a show of deterrence, a demonstration of solidarity, and a declaration of readiness to defend ourselves together against whatever threat there is out there. Our forces standing shoulder to shoulder with our Allies are prepared to respond immediately. For Slovakia, the presence of the Alliance Battlegroup is a confirmation of collective defence in practice.”
Thanks to putting Allied troops and defence systems into Slovakia, NATO has made Slovakia better protected than ever before. Allied military personnel and their state-of-the-art equipment have strengthened the capacities and capabilities of the Slovak Armed Force.
As part of the ongoing deployment of Patriot air defence capabilities to Slovakia, the Bundeswehr Patriot air defence battery is based at Sliač Air Base, and while the Dutch Patriot air defence battery has been withdrawn from there recently, the U.S. Patriot battery remains operational at Malacky Air Base.
Among the Combat Equipment (CE) land platforms deployed to the Training Centre Lešť are Patria 8x8 AMVs from Slovenia, Boxer 8x8 AFVs from Germany, Pandur II 8x8 APCs from Czechia, as well as Iveco LMVs (e.g. CBRN variant), Tatra 810 trucks, and U.S. Army Humvee vehicles.
This NATO deployment aligns perfectly with the Slovak Armed Forces' efforts to bring new defence systems from the core modernisation programmes into operational service in order to bolster Slovakia's defences.
Commander of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia Col Karel Navrátil said: “This one year of Russiaʼs war against Ukraine has clearly shown that our security is not a matter of course and that dreams about lasting peace are exactly just that – dreams. The Alliance and all of its members must be ready for all potential scenarios including the worst one – fighting in high intensity conflict (HIC) against a strong adversary. The existence of our and the other Battlegroups on the eastern flank attests to one thing – NATO is determined and ready to defend every inch of its territory and one billion inhabitants in its member countries, the values of democracy, the rule of law and freedom. And that is clearly reflected in our motto: ‘We are ready!’”
Over 1,000 Allied military personnel are currently serving in the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia. The Czech Republic leads the Battlegroup, with Slovenia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Slovakia as contributing nations. Yet, more Allies have expressed interest in joining the Battlegroup and ramping up our security. The existing Parliament-approved mandate allows for up to 3,000 Alliance troops to serve on the ground in the country.
Speaking of the Battlegroup's role, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The aim of this Allied reinforcement is a show of deterrence, a demonstration of solidarity, and a declaration of readiness to defend ourselves together against whatever threat there is out there. Our forces standing shoulder to shoulder with our Allies are prepared to respond immediately. For Slovakia, the presence of the Alliance Battlegroup is a confirmation of collective defence in practice.”
Thanks to putting Allied troops and defence systems into Slovakia, NATO has made Slovakia better protected than ever before. Allied military personnel and their state-of-the-art equipment have strengthened the capacities and capabilities of the Slovak Armed Force.
As part of the ongoing deployment of Patriot air defence capabilities to Slovakia, the Bundeswehr Patriot air defence battery is based at Sliač Air Base, and while the Dutch Patriot air defence battery has been withdrawn from there recently, the U.S. Patriot battery remains operational at Malacky Air Base.
Among the Combat Equipment (CE) land platforms deployed to the Training Centre Lešť are Patria 8x8 AMVs from Slovenia, Boxer 8x8 AFVs from Germany, Pandur II 8x8 APCs from Czechia, as well as Iveco LMVs (e.g. CBRN variant), Tatra 810 trucks, and U.S. Army Humvee vehicles.
This NATO deployment aligns perfectly with the Slovak Armed Forces' efforts to bring new defence systems from the core modernisation programmes into operational service in order to bolster Slovakia's defences.
Commander of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia Col Karel Navrátil said: “This one year of Russiaʼs war against Ukraine has clearly shown that our security is not a matter of course and that dreams about lasting peace are exactly just that – dreams. The Alliance and all of its members must be ready for all potential scenarios including the worst one – fighting in high intensity conflict (HIC) against a strong adversary. The existence of our and the other Battlegroups on the eastern flank attests to one thing – NATO is determined and ready to defend every inch of its territory and one billion inhabitants in its member countries, the values of democracy, the rule of law and freedom. And that is clearly reflected in our motto: ‘We are ready!’”
Over 1,000 Allied military personnel are currently serving in the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia. The Czech Republic leads the Battlegroup, with Slovenia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Slovakia as contributing nations. Yet, more Allies have expressed interest in joining the Battlegroup and ramping up our security. The existing Parliament-approved mandate allows for up to 3,000 Alliance troops to serve on the ground in the country.
