Portugal will send to Slovakia in the second half of the year a platoon of five Leopard II A6 combat vehicles from the army, equal to those donated to Ukraine last year and considered among the most modern in operation, the report said. CM with national defense sources. This commitment would still need to be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense, a body headed by the President of the Republic and which annually authorizes individual national forces – a list of missions for this year has not been published, despite the council’s approval in October 2023.
Slovakia is a European Union and NATO country bordering Ukraine.
Ukrainians have been at war with Russia since pro-Russian troops invaded Crimea on February 23, 2014, and, even more strongly, since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Leopard tank formations of the Portuguese Army are already being trained at the mechanized brigade barracks in Santa Margarida, Constantia. He is to be part of the so-called Multinational Battle Group in Leste, Slovakia, 200 km from the border with Ukraine.
The same National Defense sources say the mission’s goal is to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank in a defensive position to deter a possible Russian attack.
The deployment of five tanks will be accompanied by a detachment of up to 30 soldiers.
Portugal bought 37 Leopard II A6s from the Netherlands in 2008, donating three of them to Ukraine last year in a deal that included maintenance and restoration of the remaining fleet, with Germany bearing the costs.
Author: Sergio A. Vitorino
Source: CM Jornal
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