Spanish Troops in Kuchyna Get New Command as Part of Routine Rotation

Bratislava/Malacky, 8 August (TASR) – Spanish military units stationed at the Kuchyna airbase near Malacky have received new leadership as part of a regular rotation of forces. The Spanish troops are deployed in Slovakia as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence. „I was recently the commander of the 46th Wing and has been present since the beginning of this cooperation. I worked very well with them. I believe we have much to learn — both as a NATO member state and on a personal and professional level," said Peter Vyrostek, Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Slovak Armed Forces. According to Vyrostek, cooperation with the Spanish troops enriches the Slovak military. He was one of the soldiers awarded a medal on the occasion of the command handover. „I received the medal for cooperation with these Spanish units. I was essentially present at the start of their operations at the base. I helped shape their mission and assisted with their daily tasks as wing commander," he explained. During the change in command, 15 Spanish soldiers left Kuchyna while 12 new ones arrived. Spanish public affairs officer Jesus Marco stated that the mission of the Spanish forces in Slovakia is to strengthen the country. „Our main responsibility is to build relationships between our armies. We also want to gain insight into the situation in Slovakia and how we can better support you," Marco added. There are currently around 80 Spanish soldiers stationed at Kuchyna. According to Vyrostek, there are no current plans to add soldiers of other nationalities to this unit. Allied forces are also deployed in Lest, where approximately 800 Spanish troops are stationed. mf/mcs