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West Africa - SahelMissions Operations

The Czechs make a decisive commitment to EUTM Mali

Czech commandos in Kosovo (credit: Czech Ministry of Defence)

(BRUSSELS2) Czech participation in the European training mission for the Malian army will not be negligible. The Czech government authorized this Wednesday (February 6) the commitment of 50 soldiers for EUTM Mali.

« The Czech Republic is ready to participate actively in stabilizing the situation in Mali by sending a contingent of up to 50 soldiers for 15 months said Prime Minister Petr Necas, who also serves as Defense Minister. Interim. Czech soldiers have a rich experience in training the armed forces of other states. They have demonstrated this on several occasions in the Balkans and in Iraq, and still play an important role today in the training of Afghan security forces. “, specified, for his part, the Deputy Minister of Defense, Vlastimil Picek.

30 instructors will be available from April. They will be responsible for training mechanized units of the Malian army, for a period of 15 months (until mid-2014). (This period may, if necessary, be extended). 20 other personnel could also be available - “ depending on the evolution of the mission and the requirements of the mission commander for the training of special forces (commando forces) or anti-IED units (improvised explosive devices), according to the press release from the Czech Ministry of Defence. The cost, for the Czech Republic, is estimated at 220 million crowns (about 8 million euros) financed by the Ministry of Defence.

This decision still needs to be endorsed by Parliament. Which shouldn't be a problem, normally. The Social Democratic opposition has already agreed to this shipment, according to the CTK news agency.

Comment: a Czech twist

This news will not really surprise the faithful readers of this blog. A few months ago already, the Czech Chief of Staff hinted at the desire to engage decisively in the missions of the European Union. The departure of Vaclav Klaus from the Chateau (the residence of the Czech president) and his replacement by the more Europhile Milos Zeman made this turning point in Czech politics possible. The first gesture of the new president had been to hoist the European flag over his residence. Here is another gesture that is not only symbolic! We thus find a Czech Republic closer to its traditional history. Prague may soon surprise us with other measures. If confirmed, it will lead to a major shift in Eastern Europe.

Read also: For the Czechs after Afghanistan and NATO, the EU?

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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