59 Soldiers Depart for Hungary
The 9th Croatian contingent was ceremonially sent off from the barracks in Gospić, where they will spend six months in Hungary as part of NATO's forward land forces activity, training with allied forces.
The 9th Croatian contingent was ceremonially sent off from the barracks in Gospić, where they will spend six months in Hungary as part of NATO's forward land forces activity, training with allied forces.
The ninth Croatian contingent, consisting of 59 members of the Armed Forces, was ceremonially sent off on Tuesday from the barracks of the 9th Guards Brigade "Vukovi" in Gospić for a six-month rotation in Hungary, participating in NATO's forward land forces activity, specifically the Multinational Battle Group. The light infantry platoon numbers 40 soldiers, and the contingent also includes three members of the medical team, two members of the Military Police Regiment, seven staff members, and five members of the national support element. The command team is led by Colonel Saša Berger, contingent commander, and Second Lieutenant Mislav Soldić, intelligence officer.
In Hungary, they will undergo joint training and integration with units from Hungary, the United States, Italy, and other partner nations, all aimed at maintaining high operational readiness, exchanging experiences, and practicing joint procedures in an international environment. State Secretary Drago Matanović stated that Croatia's participation "confirms consistent commitment to allied obligations and the values on which NATO is founded."
He added that "Croatia thus contributes to the security of the European area, strengthens its international reputation, and confirms its status as a responsible and reliable ally," emphasizing that "working in a multinational environment develops the professional capabilities and readiness of the Croatian Army."
Contingent commander Colonel Saša Berger expressed confidence that "the 9th Croatian contingent will successfully contribute to common security" and that "Croatian soldiers will once again confirm a high level of preparedness for executing tasks in various conditions." He highlighted the combination of experience and youth among the soldiers being deployed to Hungary as a key advantage, and then reflected on experiences from the Homeland War.
His central message, that "state security should not be defended only at the doorstep, but along the routes from which threats may come," emphasized the importance of preventive action and cooperation with allies during a period of complex security challenges in the European area.
Croatian soldiers have been participating in this activity based on a decision by the Parliament, with the first contingent deployed to Hungary in July 2022. Up to 70 members of the Armed Forces can participate in a single rotation, with a total of 140 members rotating annually. So far, hundreds of Croatian soldiers have passed through successive six-month rotations. The ninth contingent will continue to develop interoperability and apply the highest allied standards, with members expected to professionally execute all assigned tasks and gain new experiences to bring back to their home units.
The send-off coincided with the conclusion of several NATO air missions on the Alliance's eastern flank. In Romania, British Eurofighters from the Royal Air Force completed the Air Policing mission with over 180 flight hours, along with Italian Eurofighters that reinforced air defense in southeastern Europe. A day earlier, French Rafales completed the Air Policing mission in Lithuania, contributing to strengthening NATO's air defense in the Baltics.
