Visegrad countries to form joint military force

The Visegrad countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia - have agreed to form a joint military force that should be operational by 2016.

The deal was announced at a summit in Warsaw on the 6 March 2013 that was also attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande.

The agreement, signed by the four nations' prime ministers, calls for a force of up to 3,000 troops to be ready by 2016 for operations such as peacekeeping and crisis management.

RIA Novosti, 06.03.13: Visegrád States to Form EU Battle Group http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20130306/179856959/Visegrd-States-to-Form-EU-Battle-Group.html

Press Statement of the Polish Presidency in the Visegrad Group, 06.03.13 http://www.visegradgroup.eu/calendar/2013/press-statement-of-the

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