Five Leopard II A6 tanks from the Portuguese army arrived Tuesday morning in Lest, Slovakia, where they will form part of the Portuguese Armed Forces’ first national tank force for at least six months. They will be integrated into a Spanish unit and will be part of NATO’s efforts to shore up its eastern border after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The tanks were transported overland from the Santa Margarida military field (tank group of the mechanized brigade) to the port of Setubal; from there by sea to the port of Gdynia, in Poland; and then again overland through Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The 24 soldiers who will garrison and service the tanks were already in Slovakia. For the first time, they will display the Cross of Christ, which is present on army vehicles during missions abroad, as part of military tradition.
In addition to a platoon of five combat vehicles, one light vehicle also includes two heavy vehicles, the force “will participate in exercises and training activities integrated into the Spanish battalion, in the context of deepening the presence of the Atlantic Alliance and increasing the deterrence and defense capabilities of this organization, as well as the interoperability of forces in a multinational context within the framework of NATO’s Operation Enhanced Vigilance,” the army said.