Editing Slovakia (section)

=== Military ===
{{Main|Slovak Armed Forces}}
{{See also|Slovak Air Force}}

[[File:Slovak Army 5th Special Forces Regiment in Afghanistan2.jpg|thumb|Slovak 5th Special Forces Regiment in eastern Afghanistan during the [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]]]

The president is formally the [[commander-in-chief]] of the Slovak armed forces.

Slovakia joined [[NATO]] in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/03-march/e0329a.htm |title=NATO Update: Seven new members join NATO |publisher=Nato.int |date=26 March 2004 |access-date=10 September 2013 |archive-date=15 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315110351/http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/03-march/e0329a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2006, the army transformed into a fully professional organisation and compulsory military service was abolished. Slovak armed forces numbered 19,500 uniformed personnel and 4,208 civilians in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www1.pluska.sk/spravy/z-domova/vlada-predstavila-novy-plan-toto-udeje-bezpecnostnymi-silami|title=Vláda predstavila nový plán: Toto sa udeje s bezpečnostnými silami!|date=7 January 2021|access-date=8 November 2022|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208225638/https://www1.pluska.sk/spravy/z-domova/vlada-predstavila-novy-plan-toto-udeje-bezpecnostnymi-silami|url-status=live}}</ref>

The country has been an active participant in US- and NATO-led military actions and involved in many [[List of United Nations peacekeeping missions|United Nations peacekeeping military missions]]: [[United Nations Protection Force|UNPROFOR]] in the Yugoslavia (1992–1995), [[United Nations Observer Mission Uganda–Rwanda|UNOMUR]] in Uganda and Rwanda (1993–1994), [[United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda|UNAMIR]] in Rwanda (1993–1996), [[United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium|UNTAES]] in Croatia (1996–1998), [[United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia|UNOMIL]] in Liberia (1993–1997), [[United Nations Observer Mission in Angola|MONUA]] in Angola (1997–1999), [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|SFOR]] in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999–2003), [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] mission in Moldova (1998–2002), [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] mission in Albania (1999), [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] in Kosovo (1999–2002), [[UNGCI]] in Iraq (2000–2003), [[United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea|UNMEE]] in Ethiopia and Eritrea (2000–2004), [[United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor|UNMISET]] in East Timor (2001), [[European Union Military Operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia|EUFOR]] Concordia in Macedonia (2003), [[United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone|UNAMSIL]] in Sierra Leone (1999–2005), [[International response to the War in Darfur|EU supporting action to African Union]] in Darfur (2006), [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in Afghanistan (2002–2005), [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] in Iraq (2003–2007) and [[United Nations Disengagement Observer Force|UNDOF]] at the borders of Israel and Syria (1998–2008).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mosr.sk/history-of-military-operations-abroad/ |title=History of military operations abroad |access-date=22 November 2021 |archive-date=17 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217180649/https://www.mosr.sk/history-of-military-operations-abroad/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:UNFICYP peacekeepers patrolling the buffer zone.jpg|thumb|Slovak members of [[UNFICYP]] peacekeepers patrolling the [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|buffer zone]] in Cyprus]]

As of 2025, Slovakia has 240 military personnel deployed in [[Cyprus]] for [[UNFICYP]] [[United Nations]] led [[Peacekeeping|peace support operation]]s, 50 troops deployed in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] for [[EUFOR Althea]] and 135 troops deployed in [[Latvia]] for [[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mosr.sk/operacie-europa-a-blizky-vychod/|title=Operácie – Európa a Blízky východ|date=7 January 2025|website=Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic}}</ref>

The Slovak [[Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic|Ground Forces]] are made up of two active [[mechanised infantry]] [[brigade]]s. The [[Slovak Air Force|Air and Air Defence Forces]] comprise one [[Wing (military unit)|wing]] of [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]], one wing of utility [[helicopter]]s, and one SAM brigade. Training and support forces comprise a National Support Element (Multifunctional Battalion, Transport Battalion, Repair Battalion), a garrison force of the capital city Bratislava, as well as a training battalion, and various logistics, communication, and information bases. Miscellaneous forces under the direct command of the [[Staff (military)|General Staff]] include the [[5th Special Operations Regiment (Slovakia)|5th Special Forces Regiment]].