‘Strong Lineage 26’: Strategic deployment of the NATO Multinational Brigade begins in Slovakia

• 1,600 Spanish military personnel and more than 300 vehicles are being deployed to Slovakia and Hungary over the next two weeks for this operation, which will verify the upgrade of the Multinational Battle Group Slovakia to a Brigade

1,600 Spanish military personnel and more than 300 vehicles have begun their strategic deployment for ‘Strong Lineage 26’. Over the next two weeks, they will arrive at the Lešť training area (MTA) in Slovakia and the Croft training area in Hungary for this operation, which will involve verifying the process of scaling up the Multinational Battle Group Slovakia to brigade level, a unit led by Spain since July 2024.

The contributing nations to the Multinational Brigade in Slovakia (MN BDE SVK) —Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Romania and Turkey— have activated their national procedures to ensure the projection, transfer and integration of their capabilities from their respective home countries, as well as the handover of forces to the NATO chain of command.

Specifically, the assets embarked at the port of Almería and, after travelling through the western Mediterranean, have arrived at the port of Koper in Slovenia. From there, various land convoys will transport the forces to the Lešť training area in Slovakia and the Croft training area in Hungary, with the strategic deployment concluding on 24 May, with the entire MN BDE SVK deployed and under the command of General of the Legion José Agustín Carreras Postigo.

In total, Operation ‘Strong Lineage 26’ will involve around 2,900 military personnel of seven nationalities. During the tactical phase of the operation, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) will verify that the MN BDE SVK, led by Spain, is combat-ready from every possible perspective: activation, strategic projection, logistics (storage and sustainment capacity for all materials) and operations, in close coordination with the host nation, Slovakia.

The main objective of the ‘Strong Lineage 26’ mission exercise is to demonstrate to NATO Spain’s firm commitment as the lead nation for one of the Brigades that the Alliance has deployed on its eastern flank.

Activation and deployment of Spanish units

The multinational contingent (Multinational Battle Group Slovakia / MN BG SVK) — permanently deployed at the Lešť training area (MTA) — will be reinforced to reach the full capabilities of the Multinational Brigade in Slovakia (MN BDE SVK), with units remaining stationed in their home countries but ready for rapid deployment if necessary.

In the case of Spain, the core unit to be deployed is the ‘King Alfonso XIII’ Legion Brigade (BRILEG), headquartered in Viator (Almería), joined by the efforts of multiple Army units spread across the country.

It is worth noting the complexity of the planning and management of transport in this operation, due to the synchronisation of maritime, naval and air assets. Furthermore, this logistical operation has presented another major challenge due to the necessary coordination of movements with NATO Headquarters and the national authorities involved, as well as transit through three different countries and the corresponding intermediate support, legal agreements and multinational collaborations.

All participating assets have been transferred to the Operations Command (MOPS) and are working in close collaboration with the High Readiness Land Headquarters (NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain, NRDC-ESP).