Excellent Cooperation Between Hungarian and Slovak Soldiers

The general assessed the training event as satisfactory, noting that the joint work provides the two armed forces with a solid basis for further expanding the various dimensions of cooperation. “In my opinion, the military cooperation between the two countries is exemplary, and the same goes for all cooperative efforts, from the UNFICYP mission to the TISA Engineer Battalion, or possibly to border security operations", Dr. Tibor Benkő said. The general explained that the aim of the Slovak soldiers’ visit was to learn about the lessons learned by Hungarian soldiers and policemen in tackling migration. The ongoing work on the southern border section can be regarded a military operation, which must be practiced, and the lessons learned must be collected and systematized. He added that these lessons learned can be used not only in the migration crisis but also in other similar situations. The training event involved some 100 Hungarian and 35 Slovak soldiers.

Slovak Chief of Defence General Milan Maxim called such joint training events highly valuable because, as he noted, their tasks in protecting Slovakia’s borders are similar to those assigned to the Hungarian soldiers. He also said that in recent years a significant infrastructure has been established along the border, where several modern bases have been built, and the soldiers have been provided with adequate equipment for their task execution. In his opinion, the government and the leaders of the Hungarian Defence Forces have done their best to support the soldiers’ activity. He added that in the recent period, the members of the Hungarian Defence Forces have learnt all those procedures that are essential for border protection. “The soldiers and the policemen, as well as other members of the border security service can be proud of themselves, and you can be proud of them", he said.

During the training event, the operation of the temporary security barrier on the border and the Kelebia border security base were presented, and the military and police equipment used in border security operations was put on display. This was followed by a demonstration of Slovak and Hungarian soldiers and policemen. Beyond patrolling, they also professionally executed the tasks of detecting and arresting migrants crossing the fence, and even protected the border against a large group preparing to break through the border fence.

Photo: Veronika Dévényi