SLOVAKIA - NATO MULTINATIONAL BATTLE GROUP
On 23 March 2022, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia expressed the intent to deploy up to 200 Slovenian Armed Forces members, including the National Support Element and staff personnel, to the NATO battle group in Slovakia operating within the Enhanced Vigilance Activities (eVA) on rotational basis.
The battlegroup activity includes the Czech Republic as the lead nation, Germany, Slovakia, the USA and Slovenia, together forming a Battalion Battle Group stationed in Lest (east of Bratislava).
The main body of the Slovenian Armed Forces contingent in Slovakia consists of a light motorized infantry platoon. Members of the Slovenian Armed Forces participate in peacetime activities, as part of efforts to ensure and maintain readiness in support of the Alliance's comprehensive and enhanced deterrence and defence posture. This includes exercises, training events, and other peacetime activities, including the battle group force protection measures.
In the light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the establishment of these units was supported at the highest political level in the Alliance, including the Republic of Slovenia. Therefore, participation in this framework reflects the solidarity, responsibility and credibility of the Republic of Slovenia as a NATO member in strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defence posture. Participation in this NATO Battlegroup will have beneficial transformational effects for the Slovenian Armed Forces in terms of enhancing their readiness, combat capacity and interoperability with allied armed forces.
The establishment of NATO multinational battle groups is a decisive message of cohesion and solidarity. These measures build up readiness, deter aggression and clearly demonstrate NATO's firm commitment to the defence of all allies. In addition to the four existing battle groups in the Baltic States and Poland, NATO now has eight multinational battle groups between the Baltic and the Black Sea.