Ex Slovak Shield 2018: Minister Gajdoš introduces capabilities of exercising troops to members of SVK Cabinet

 
Speaking about SVK defence modernization to media at Lešť, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said: “Over the past months we have been and will still be witness to one of the most extensive modernization efforts in the Armed Forces since the foundation of the Slovak Republic. That is why we have decided to come to Lešť at the conclusion of this international exercise in order to verify how some of the cutting-edge technologies are used and to what extent our Slovak Armed Forces are interoperable with NATO partners.”
 
On the need for members of the Cabinet to familiarise themselves with the capabilities of the Slovak Armed Forces, Defence Minister Gajdoš said: “The aim of this modernization, requiring an increased investment in defence, is to strengthen our military capabilities and enable our soldiers to get better prepared to guarantee the security of Slovak citizens. And precisely because it is members of the Cabinet who give consent to historical investments in modernising the Armed Forces, they should see for themselves what the money is spent on.”
 
On a major capability uplift in the Armed Forces in support of deterrence, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security Anton Hrnko said: “This Cabinet has adopted very significant decisions, ones that allow our armed forces to keep up with todayʼs technological advances. I wish to underline that the Armed Forces are not being modernised because we are preparing for war, but because we want to preserve peace, since it is only the weak who fall victim to aggression.”

Highlighting the interoperability among Allies in pursuit of collective defence, Chief of Defence Lt Gen Daniel Zmeko said: “As part of Ex Slovak Shield, we are practising interoperability with NATO partners and all the planning that goes into delivering the self-defence of the Slovak Republic. We have made the best of all available facilities that the unique Training Centre Lešť has to offer. And we are pleased with the results of the exercise.”
 
In addition to SVK Armed Forces personnel, this year the exercise is being attended by troops from the Visegrad Group (V4) Armed Forces, the United States Army Europe (USAREUR), and the Indiana National Guard (INNG), operating over 200 pieces of military equipment. This yearʼs Slovak Shield 2018 series is geared towards training troops in response to current security challenges, from exercising all levels of Armed Forces Command, assisted by Slovak defence plans, to activating Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.
 
Ex Slovak Shield 2018 is taking place at the Training Centre Lešť and the Simulation Centre of Liptovský Mikuláš-based General M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy. Some phases of the exercise also involve Slovak Armed Forces units stationed at their permanent bases across Slovakia.