Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak stressed at the joint press conference that the Czech-Polish cooperation is also important because of the challenges that arose due to the Russian attack on Ukraine “Putin’s attempt to rebuild the Russian Empire.”
He also said: They also talked about the need to establish cooperation in the European Union in the field of supplying armies with fuel. The initiative was previously discussed in NATO forums – the Polish minister indicated.
Cernochová announced that she and Blaszczak would meet with Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad on August 27. Then we sign a joint trusteeship agreement over Slovak airspace – he added.
In June, Jaroslav Nad requested protection of the airspace of Slovakia from the Czech and Polish sides. According to the announcement by the Czech Ministry of Defense at the end of July, the mission will start in September and continue at least until the end of 2023, until Slovakia receives the 14 American F-16 fighter planes that it has ordered.
The latter will replace the Russian-made MiG-29 fighters, whose use in the Slovak army will cease due to the Russian attack on Ukraine. During the mission in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland will launch combat aircraft from their own bases, but they can also use Slovak airfields if necessary.
Cover photo: Artur Widak / NurPhoto via Getty Images
