Slovaks on 14 international military missions in 2015

In 2015, Slovakia was involved in 14 international crisis management missions under the auspices of the EU, OSCE, NATO and the UN. Slovaks participated in military operations, peacekeeping, stabilisation and observer missions in Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, in the Middle East and many other countries around the world. The largest number of soldiers (159) were stationed in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus. Slovakia spent more than €18 million to secure its participation in the individual operations. This year, Slovakia should continue to participate in all the missions, apart from two. It will no longer deploy officers to Afghanistan (EUPOL) and to the Palestinian territories (EUPOL COPPS) - both under the auspices of the EU. Furthermore, the country plans to extend its involvement in new missions, particularly those in Ukraine.