NATO Force Integration Unit launched in Bratislava

The NATO Force Integration Unit Slovakia (NFIU SVK) was established at the Bratislava barracks located in the borough of Vajnory on Tuesday. The opening ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš, NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Tacan Ildem, Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Lieutenant-General Steven M. Shepro and NATO Allied Joint Force commander General Salvatore Farina. Gajdoš pointed out that the founding of NFIU SVK is part of the Readiness Action Plan that the Alliance greenlighted in response to the changing security environment on NATO borders. "We perceive this organisational element as a contribution to national but also collective defence in terms of post-Wales Summit security development," said Gajdoš, adding that the primary task of NFIU is to provide effective despatching of NATO forces on the eastern flank in case of need. Gajdoš underlined that NFIU SVK does not represent a NATO base in Slovakia. Similar Integration Units have been established in seven other countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. The purpose of NFIU SVK is to provide support to NATO collective defence during the planning process, providing assistance to training and joint exercises and, if necessary, providing and coordinating the arrival of allied troops in the given region. A total of 41 soldiers will be assigned to the Slovak NFIU, with 21 posts earmarked for Slovakia and 20 for personnel from other countries.