The Training Centre in Lešť hosted a significant event on Monday, 1 July 2024. The Czech Armed Forces handed over the command of the Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia (MN BG SVK) to the Spanish Armed Forces. The handover represents a significant milestone as this is Spain’s first command of a foreign operation in Eastern Europe. The structure of the battlegroup shall be expanded to brigade level (MN BDE TF SVK) with over two thousand Spanish servicemembers at its core.
“The handover of command and transformation of the battlegroup testify to the Czech Republic’s continuing commitment to the strengthening of international security and cooperation within NATO. Our coalition partners are well aware of the contribution the Czech command generated in over two years. It is a demonstration of our determination and high professionalism. I wish to thank all service members who served in the battlegroup and thus contributed to this its vital legacy,” said the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Karel Řehka.
Further changes have also been made to the battlegroup. Germany, which was one of the main contributing countries, has been replaced by Portugal. This expands the force diversity and shall bring new experience and specialties to the multinational battlegroup, which is now manned by six countries: Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, United States, and Spain as the lead nation. Its main battle assets are the BMP-2 IFVs from the Czech Republic, Slovenian Valuk light IFVs and U.S. multipurpose HMMWV vehicles. New assets include high mobility tactical vehicles VAMTAC with a 105mm field gun and Centauro wheeled tank destroyers, both from Spain, and Leopard tanks from Portugal.
“During our command, training also included tactical activities informed by lessons from current conflicts, as well as a series of experimental exercises in command and control, manoeuvre, fires and logistics. Such methods significantly increased the readiness and capabilities of all units of the battlegroup in accordance with NATO standards, which contributed to the successful outcomes of the Czech command,” said the outgoing Czech commander, Colonel Petr Blecha.
Czechs no longer in command but staying in Slovakia
The Czech Republic is now represented by the 72nd Mechanized Battalion Přáslavice with a mechanized company, combat support units and members of the multinational staff of the brigade under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Michal Voltr. The battalion shall continue the tasks and operations within the MN BDE TF SVK. Czech service personnel shall focus on the provision of security and preparedness of NATO in close cooperation with other Allied partners. The 7th Mechanized Brigade deployed its third unit to Slovakia. Previously, the brigade deployed the personnel of the 74th Mechanized Battalion Bučovice and, in the last command rotation, the 71st Members Battalion Hranice.
Spanish servicemembers from the Galician coastline
“The switch of the two brigades –Czech and Spanish– is a symbol of the outstanding flexibility in international military relations. While the Czech Armed Forces 7th Mechanized Brigade hands over command together with its experience from the service in Slovakia, the Spanish Armed Forces 7th Light Airborne Infantry Brigade (BRILAT) “Galicia” arrives with new perspectives and capabilities as well as experience from various international missions,” said the new commander Colonel Andrés Gonzáles Alvarádo, who shall be soon followed by Colonel Francisco Calvo Rodríguez.
The largest Spanish representation in the multinational battlegroup is the 7th Light Airborne Infantry Brigade “Galicia”. It is a combat unit equipped with the Heckler & Koch USP pistols and the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifles, as well as the VAMTAC armoured vehicles which can be deployed in difficult terrain and varied climates, which the Spanish forces are trained for.
The Galician brigade participated in multinational deployments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Mali, showing high levels of readiness. This was one of the reasons why the brigade was chosen to start the Spanish command in of the BDE TF Slovakia.
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