Commander’s Visit to Hódmezővásárhely

Italy came up with the proposal of implementing the European Union Defence Cooperation Initiative (EU DECI). The initiative is aimed at promoting deeper military cooperation among countries in the region of the Adriatic Sea in the interest of strengthening regional stability and security. Two further nations – Austria and Croatia – have also joined the EU DECI Battle Group, which was set up on the basis of the Italian–Slovenian–Hungarian Multinational Land Force (MLF). The soldiers of the HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade fill various positions in this multinational battlegroup.

Before the inspection of forces declared to the battlegroup, Brig.-Gen. Dr. Romulusz Ruszin, Commander, HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade introduced the brigade and its system of tasks, and then Capt. Tamás Ispán spoke about the readiness level of the EU DECI Company and the current training processes.

Following the displays, MLF Commander Brig.-Gen. Paolo Fabbri said that he had already worked together with Hungarian soldiers several times, and can only praise their high professional standards. “Last December, at the exercise held in Italy, we demonstrated the interoperability of this stand-by unit to representatives of the European Union, which proves the successfulness of international cohesion. I am pleased to have the Hungarian Company as part of the Multinational Land Force", the general added.

Photos by the author