Cooperation with Czech partners on PESCO and operations abroad
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- Date: 04.09.2017
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Cooperation on the EU's PESCO initiative and international crisis management operations was on the agenda of today's meeting between SVK and CZE Defence Ministers Peter Gajdoš and Martin Stropnický who met for talks as the SVK and CZE Governments held Gov-to-Gov discussions in Czechia's Lednice.
At the meeting, the Ministers addressed rejoining [NATO's] enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the Baltics, where the total Slovak military contribution will be up to 152 personnel, who will most probably be operating under Canadian command. Similarly, in July of this year the Czech Republic approved a mechanised company and a mortar company to be deployed on eFP role. As with SVK troops, CZE troops will be dispatched to the Baltics starting from 2018. In addition, Minister Gajdoš informed his Czech counterpart about a SVK troops' deployment to Iraq.
In meeting with his Czech partner, Head of the SVK MOD likewise informed of [Slovakia's] interest in joining the EU's PESCO initiative. “We have the ambition to fulfil all the criteria and commitments associated with PESCO. In this regard, we consider the Czech Republic to be one of the closest partners, even when it comes to identifying joint projects which may be developed through PESCO,” emphasised Minister Gajdoš. He and his Czech partner were in agreement that both countries are seeking to be part of the EU's integration core.
Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to furthering the above-average defence engagement between the SVK REP and the CZE REP on joint training and exercises. Similarly, they were in agreement that forging closer cooperation under the CEDC grouping is in their countries' interest.
At the meeting, the Ministers addressed rejoining [NATO's] enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the Baltics, where the total Slovak military contribution will be up to 152 personnel, who will most probably be operating under Canadian command. Similarly, in July of this year the Czech Republic approved a mechanised company and a mortar company to be deployed on eFP role. As with SVK troops, CZE troops will be dispatched to the Baltics starting from 2018. In addition, Minister Gajdoš informed his Czech counterpart about a SVK troops' deployment to Iraq.
In meeting with his Czech partner, Head of the SVK MOD likewise informed of [Slovakia's] interest in joining the EU's PESCO initiative. “We have the ambition to fulfil all the criteria and commitments associated with PESCO. In this regard, we consider the Czech Republic to be one of the closest partners, even when it comes to identifying joint projects which may be developed through PESCO,” emphasised Minister Gajdoš. He and his Czech partner were in agreement that both countries are seeking to be part of the EU's integration core.
Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to furthering the above-average defence engagement between the SVK REP and the CZE REP on joint training and exercises. Similarly, they were in agreement that forging closer cooperation under the CEDC grouping is in their countries' interest.
