Slovakia was briefly supplied with the SAMP/T final yr, which is now wanted “elsewhere,” PM Robert Fico says
Italy plans to withdraw its SAMP/T surface-based air protection system from Slovakia, in line with media experiences on Saturday, citing Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The system in query was briefly deployed to Slovakia final yr to exchange the US Patriot anti-aircraft system, which the nation transferred to Ukraine.
“I acquired a discover from the Italian authorities that the Italian air protection system, which they lent us for a yr, will probably be withdrawn from Slovakia, as a result of they want it elsewhere,” Fico was cited as saying, with out elaborating on the place precisely the system will probably be transferred subsequent. The prime minister expressed considerations concerning his nation’s safety as soon as the system is eliminated, as Slovakia at the moment has no various to guard its air area.
“First, the earlier authorities donated a practical huge Russian S-300 air protection system to Ukraine. Then we had American Patriots right here for some time, they have been additionally eliminated, and now the Italian [system] may also be taken away.”
The knowledge of Slovakia sending army help to Ukraine on the expense of its personal safety was additionally just lately questioned by the nation’s newly-appointed protection minister, Robert Kalinak. In an interview with the newspaper Customary in January, the official accused the earlier authorities of surrendering key army {hardware} to Ukraine with out planning to safe replacements, noting that it will doubtless take years to repair the harm completed to nationwide safety.
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Upon being elected in September final yr, Fico, an outspoken critic of the Western strategy to the Ukraine battle, halted Slovakia’s army help to Kiev. In a video assertion on social media final month, he additionally pledged to not ship Slovak troops to Ukraine, even when it prices him his premiership.
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