Martin Glváč with NATO ministers
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- Date: 05.02.2015
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SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč participated in the meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.
The talks were dominated especially by the task performance evaluation of the Readiness Action Plan, which provides a direct response to the changes in the security environment. Accordingly, the NATO Response Force (NRF) will be reinforced, with the NRF expected to double in size and reach a division-sized force. As part of new force generation, the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) will be developed, consisting of approx. 5,000 troops. Moreover, the deployment time of such force is to be shortened, in some cases down to 48 hrs since the emergence of a threat to any of the Alliance member states. This requires regular and intensive training.
“We have also come up with a proposal for a specific contribution according to the needs of the Alliance. We positively respond to all challenges. And, of course, we are taking all the steps that are expected from us on the grounds that we are one of the countries neighbouring Ukraine,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč, as one of the topics on the agenda was Ukraine, to which the Slovak Republic has provided humanitarian aid and training for Ukrainian specialists in the field of mine-clearance. “This represents a follow-on contribution within our declaration, on which we agreed either on the level of the Alliance or based on Ukraine’s requirements. This co-operation has proved to be effective,” evaluated Martin Glváč. This year five courses will be organized for more than 70 members of the Ukrainian security forces.
Needless to add, the Slovak Republic is the 8th NATO member state which has asked for the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) to be activated on its territory. “This only concerns a team of planners. In general, their presence will facilitate a potential acceptance of NATO reinforcements for a member state in question. During peacetime it will support planning activities,” explained SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. This is not about establishing a combat unit, nor a military base, as some media have misleadingly reported.
During the defence ministers’ session, Martin Glváč had an informal meeting with the Czech Minister of Defence, Martin Stropnický. One of the topics discussed was the procurement of new medium-range 3D surveillance radars. Martin Glváč informed his Czech counterpart of the hitherto steps taken by the SVK Ministry of Defence towards the respective tender. “In December, we issued a preliminary invitation to tender in the field of defence and security for the procurement of medium-range 3D surveillance radars. We have taken this step despite the fact that the law does not require us to do so,” added Minister Glváč.
The talks were dominated especially by the task performance evaluation of the Readiness Action Plan, which provides a direct response to the changes in the security environment. Accordingly, the NATO Response Force (NRF) will be reinforced, with the NRF expected to double in size and reach a division-sized force. As part of new force generation, the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) will be developed, consisting of approx. 5,000 troops. Moreover, the deployment time of such force is to be shortened, in some cases down to 48 hrs since the emergence of a threat to any of the Alliance member states. This requires regular and intensive training.
“We have also come up with a proposal for a specific contribution according to the needs of the Alliance. We positively respond to all challenges. And, of course, we are taking all the steps that are expected from us on the grounds that we are one of the countries neighbouring Ukraine,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč, as one of the topics on the agenda was Ukraine, to which the Slovak Republic has provided humanitarian aid and training for Ukrainian specialists in the field of mine-clearance. “This represents a follow-on contribution within our declaration, on which we agreed either on the level of the Alliance or based on Ukraine’s requirements. This co-operation has proved to be effective,” evaluated Martin Glváč. This year five courses will be organized for more than 70 members of the Ukrainian security forces.
Needless to add, the Slovak Republic is the 8th NATO member state which has asked for the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) to be activated on its territory. “This only concerns a team of planners. In general, their presence will facilitate a potential acceptance of NATO reinforcements for a member state in question. During peacetime it will support planning activities,” explained SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. This is not about establishing a combat unit, nor a military base, as some media have misleadingly reported.
During the defence ministers’ session, Martin Glváč had an informal meeting with the Czech Minister of Defence, Martin Stropnický. One of the topics discussed was the procurement of new medium-range 3D surveillance radars. Martin Glváč informed his Czech counterpart of the hitherto steps taken by the SVK Ministry of Defence towards the respective tender. “In December, we issued a preliminary invitation to tender in the field of defence and security for the procurement of medium-range 3D surveillance radars. We have taken this step despite the fact that the law does not require us to do so,” added Minister Glváč.
