The Spanish Ambassador to Slovakia Hosts a Delegation of the Spanish Contingent Deployed on NATO Missions in the Country

• This national meeting strengthens institutional ties and reinforces the common goal of representing Spain abroad, as well as its commitment to security on the Eastern flank of the Alliance

The Spanish Ambassador to Slovakia, Lorea Arribalzaga, hosted a delegation from the Spanish military contingents stationed in the Central European country on NATO missions at the Spanish diplomatic mission in Bratislava: the Corps Forward Element (CFE), located in the town of Kuchyna, and the Multinational Brigade Task Force (MN BDE TF) SVK, based at the Lešt Training Area. This recent meeting served to further strengthen the relationship between the diplomatic mission and the Armed Forces, emphasising the shared responsibility of representing Spain abroad.

During the event, Ambassador Arribalzaga commended the performance of the Spanish servicemen and women, highlighting  ‘their professional excellence and the esteem they have earned among the Slovak civilian population’. She acknowledged that this was something she had not had the opportunity to witness in her previous postings.

Among the military authorities present were the two commanders of the forces deployed in Slovakia. On one side, Colonel Juan Carlos Pérez Herrero, Commander of the Corps Forward Element (CFE) of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Spain (NRDC-ESP) and commander of Force Kuchyna; and on the other, Colonel Jesús Martínez Victoria, Commander of the MN BDE TF SVK and commander of Force Lešt, which is predominantly composed of personnel from the ‘Príncipe’ Infantry Regiment No. 3, based in Siero (Asturias). Also in attendance was Lieutenant Colonel Víctor Villar, representative of the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Slovakia. 

In his speech, Colonel Martínez Victoria expressed his gratitude for the continuous support provided by the embassy: ‘A support that has been essential for the successful conduct of our mission, particularly now as our rotation is in its final phase’ Meanwhile, Colonel Pérez Herrero emphasised the role of the Spanish Armed Forces as guarantors of the security and well-being of the Slovak people, their commitment to the shared values of the Atlantic Alliance, and lastly, ‘the importance of collaboration with the Spanish diplomatic staff, with whom we share the common goal of representing Spain with dignity abroad’.