Logo Polskiego Radia

Polish defence minister thanks Croatia for military support

PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek 02.10.2017 14:18
Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, who is visiting Zagreb, has thanked Croatia for some 80 of its troops that will join NATO forces defending the alliance's eastern flank in the coming weeks.
Damir Krstičević and Antoni Macierewicz. Photo: PAP/MON/Robert Siemaszko.Damir Krstičević and Antoni Macierewicz. Photo: PAP/MON/Robert Siemaszko.

According to Croatian Deputy Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, some 80 Croatian soldiers will be sent to join the NATO troops within the next two weeks.

“This is very important for us, especially now, when we face many challenges at the eastern flank,” Macierewicz said, adding that Poland was “especially grateful” for Croatian troops that were being sent to join a NATO multinational battalion battle group stationed in Poland.

At a Warsaw summit in 2016, NATO decided four multinational battalions would be stationed in Poland and the Baltic states amid fears of Russian aggression following Moscow's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014.

After meeting Krstičević on Monday, Macierewicz said that Poland and Croatia could work together on helicopter repairs, and that Polish special forces' involvement in setting up a NATO centre of excellence in Croatia "is possible".

Macierewicz said Poland had "a lot of experience" and was willing to share its know-how and support Croatia.

He also thanked Croatia for its contribution to the work at the NATO Counter Intelligence Centre for Excellence in Poland.

From Croatia, Macierewicz heads to Montenegro and then to Albania for further talks as part of an official tour of the Balkans. (vb/pk)

Source: IAR

Print
Copyright © Polskie Radio S.A About Us Contact Us