OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE OPERATIONS COMMAND TO SLOVAKIA

• Vice Admiral Alfonso Delgado Moreno visits the Spanish contingent deployed in Slovakia as part of NATO's defence and deterrence commitments on NATO's eastern flank.

Working visit to Slovakia by the Chief of Staff of the Operations Command (JEMMOPS).  Vice Admiral Alfonso Delgado Moreno was received by the Spanish Ambassador to Slovakia, Lorea Arribalzaga Ceballos, and the Chief of the Slovak Defence Staff, General Daniel Zmeko. They held a meeting to discuss areas of cooperation and interest to both countries.

The JEMMOPS then visited the facilities of the Lešť training camp, where he was received by Colonel Andrés González Alvarado, the head of the Spanish contingent.

In a first meeting, Vice Admiral Delgado Moreno was informed of the progress of the activities being carried out by the Spanish contingent since its arrival on 20 January, as well as the most important challenges that they will have to face until 1 July, the date on which Spain is scheduled to lead the battlegroup of the eFP-Slovakia operation. In this context, JEMMOPS met with Slovak Colonel Luboš Guláš, Director of the Lešť training camp, and with Czech Colonel Petr Blecha, head of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup currently deployed in Slovakia.

The JEMMOPS also visited the facilities in Lešť where he saw a static display of the deployed equipment. He also witnessed the execution of a tactical exercise by the personnel of the Zamora I/29 Battalion. During his visit, he also inspected the facilities being used by Spanish personnel, mainly Camp Slavia I, Camp Slavia II and Camp Riecky, where he was shown the plan for the implementation of future infrastructures that will be undertaken to improve the living, training and instruction conditions of the deployed Spanish military personnel.

To conclude his visit to Slovakia, the Operations Command Chief of Staff held a meeting with staff of the NATO Rapid Deployment Headquarters team in Bétera, which is deployed at Kuchyna Air Base and serves as the forward headquarters coordination element in NATO's deterrence and defence planning on the Eastern flank.

This deployment of forces demonstrates the firm commitment of Spain and its Armed Forces to our allies and Spain's resolute contribution to the Alliance's deterrence efforts in Eastern Europe.