US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken . File photoWASHINGTON Feb 4Secretary of State Anthony Blinken assured that the military agreement signed with Slovakia does not lead to the establishment of permanent US bases in this country and does not mean the «real presence» of American forces there. The document, signed against the backdrop of a security crisis in Eastern Europe, is perceived ambiguously in Slovakia, where protest rallies are held and opposition parties are calling for a referendum. «We see a lot of disinformation aimed at undermining this agreement and, more broadly, the benefits of the transatlantic partnership,» Blinken said at the signing ceremony. «It was written together by Slovakia and the United States as full, equal and sovereign partners. It reflects the interests of both our governments, our peoples and our countries. Nothing in today's agreement creates permanent American bases or a real presence in Slovakia,» he added. Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan flew to Washington to sign the document Korczok and Defense Minister Yaroslav Nagy.
U.S. military aviation begins airlifting additional troops to Europe»The U.S. presence in Europe is vital to both sides of the Atlantic, contributing to the security and stability of Europe, the alliance. In Central Europe, we have learned the hard way what it means when the U.S. is not present or not actively involved,» Korczok said. Taking the floor again at the end of the ceremony, Blinken expressed his «admiration» for the leadership he said Korczok and Nagy had shown. free use of the military airfields of Malacky-Kuhinya in the east of the country and Sliach in its central part. It also provides for the allocation by the American side of $100 million to modernize the defense infrastructure of its NATO ally. The entry into force of the document still requires ratification in the Slovak Parliament and approval by the President of the country.
