Czech Air Force will once again protect Iceland's airspace in 2025
21.11.2024 / 16:26 | Aktualizováno: 21.11.2024 / 16:29
The Parliament of the Czech Republic has approved the deployment of Czech troops in military operations abroad in 2025-2026. The protection of Iceland's airspace, known as Air Policing, is among the approved missions. NATO allied countries take turns in performing this task to help keep Icelandic airspace safe and secure. Czech pilots will follow up on their three previous successful missions and will provide Air Policing over the territory and waters of Iceland during summer 2025.
This will be the fourth deployment of the Czech Air Force to Iceland, with the previous three missions having taken place between 2014 and 2016. Once again, the Czech contingent will use JAS-39 Gripen aircrafts. Up to 95 personnel may be involved in the mission. The focus of Air Policing in Iceland is to meet Iceland’s peacetime preparedness needs to establish air surveillance and interception coverage over Iceland and maintain the integrity of NATO airspace. The mission is specific and unique to Iceland. Given its geographic location, Allies, in conjunction with the Icelandic authorities, have agreed to maintain a periodic presence of NATO fighter aircraft based at Keflavik to protect the Icelandic airspace. A delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Czech Republic led by the 1st Deputy Speaker Věra Kovářová, visited the Keflavik air base in June 2024.
Czech troops will, as in previous years, also participate in several other missions abroad. "The security of Czechia in today's globalized world does not stop at our borders. Therefore, it is important for the Czech Army to be active and present beyond Czech territory. The missions approved by the Parliament provide a tool to strengthen the security of Czech citizens. And this is also done in cooperation with our allies," said Defence Minister Jana Černochová. In total, up to 2,666 Czech soldiers may serve in missions abroad in 2025, while 2,571 soldiers can be deployed in 2026. For example, up to 2,000 Czech soldiers could be stationed on NATO's eastern flank, which is 800 more than until now. NATO's eastern flank is being reinforced due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Czech military personnel will serve in Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Slovakia. They will also continue to provide training for the Ukrainian armed forces. The Parliament also approved proposals for training and advisory mission in Mauritania, deployments on the Balkans and in the Middle East.
More information about the approved missions is available here (in Czech only).