Parliament approves NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Slovakia

Parliament approves NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Slovakia

Parliament on Tuesday approved the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Slovakia, allowing the presence of up to 2,100 NATO soldiers.

Of the 134 MPs present, the motion was supported by 96, while 15 voted against, 22 abstained and one did not take part in the vote.

The NATO enhanced Forward Presence unit is expected to consist of up to 600 Czech, 200 Dutch, 100 Polish and Slovenian, 400 American and 700 German soldiers. These numbers are related to the equipment that the soldiers will operate while taking care of the defence of Slovakia. The technology is meant to supplement selected deficiencies in the capabilities of the Slovak Armed Forces. The equipment to be brought to Slovakia includes the Patriot air defence system, while it is also possible that the Sentinel radar system will be also deployed.

The NATO eFP mission in Slovakia will be established as of March 15.

Multinational battlegroups under NATO enhanced Forward Presence were created as a deterrent tool in response to the annexation of Crimea in 2014. They are based in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Reacting to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Alliance-member states agreed to establish multinational eFP battlegroups along NATO's entire eastern flank, including Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia.

In reaction to the parliament’s approval of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Slovakia, PM Eduard Heger stated that it is the best possible move MPs could have taken. "Populism and scaremongering mustn't prevail in the fight for democracy, values and freedom," the premier noted. At the same time, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad thanked both coalition and opposition MPs who supported the motion.

"More MPs than the necessary supermajority know what responsibility is, have their heads straight and know that NATO is here to ensure the safety and defence of its entire territory," said the minister following the vote.

Source: TASR

Romana Grajcarová, Photo: TASR

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