NATO deploys Patriot air defense missile system in Slovakia

This is confirmed by the Minister of Defense of Slovakia Jaroslav Nad on March 20.

Implementation will continue in the coming days.

The Patriot air defense missile system, operated by German and Dutch troops, will initially be deployed at the Sliac airfield in central Slovakia to contribute to strengthening the defenses on the eastern flank of the country. NATO.

System Patriot missile This can be used to intercept aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and high-speed ballistic missiles at altitudes up to 20 km and from a distance of 60 km.

In another development, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and the country’s Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov said on March 19 that Sofia had refused military aid to the country. Ukraine in the conflict with Russia. The statement was made by two Bulgarian officials during talks with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who paid an official visit to Sofia from March 18 to 19.

During the visit, the two sides discussed defense cooperation and NATO’s plans to increase presence on the alliance’s eastern flank amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Petkov has ruled out the possibility that Sofia will provide military aid to Kiev, but also confirmed that Bulgaria as a NATO ally will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

The US Patriot complex (right) and the British Giraffe AMB radar during an air defense exercise near Siauliai, Lithuania in 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

Bulgaria, which does not share a border with Ukraine but has received thousands of refugees from Ukraine, has agreed to accept a new NATO combat group as part of a plan to strengthen NATO forces on the eastern flank. of this military alliance.

The combat group will be deployed with up to 1,000 troops, operating under the command of the Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe.

For his part, the US Secretary of Defense highly appreciated the support of the Bulgarian leaders in being ready to receive the above-mentioned NATO combat group, and said that during the talks, the two sides discussed the following issues: measures to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

During the talks, a crowd of Bulgarian protesters gathered in a park near the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of this country to protest against the military presence of the US and NATO on Bulgarian territory.

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