Slovenia contributes 50 troops in NATO battalion in Latvia

Slovenia has pledged to send its 50 troops in Latvia in a bid to build-up the NATO presence in eastern Europe, the national official news media reported quoting the defence ministry source.



The Slovenian contribution was made after a two-day NATO ministerial conference in Brussels, which reviewed progress in the implementation of commitments made at the July summit in Warsaw in the building of four battalions to be deployed to the Baltic states and Poland.



After expressing its willingness to participate in principle in Warsaw, Slovenia has now confirmed its commitment, Defence Ministry State Secretary Milos Bizjak was quoted by Slovenian Press Agency (STA) on Thursday as saying.



Slovenia is to contribute a platoon to the Canadian battalion to be deployed in Latvia. Apart form Latvia and Slovenia, the battalion will also comprise troops from Albania, Poland and Italy.



Based on consultations with Canada and other participating allies and considering available resources and the army's other international duties, up to 50 Slovenian service members will be deployed as of May 2017, said the STA report.

