President Joe Biden announced yesterday that the government of Slovakia agreed to send its S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine in return for the temporary deployment of an U.S. Army Patriot battery. “I want to thank the Slovakian government for providing an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, something President Zelenskyy has personally raised with me in our conversations,” he said. “To enable this transfer and ensure the continued security of Slovakia, the United States will reposition a U.S. Patriot missile system to Slovakia.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also welcomed the Slovak decision. “At my direction, and at the invitation of Slovakia, U.S. European Command will reposition one Patriot missile system, manned by U.S. service members, to Slovakia,” he said. “We expect this battery and its crew to arrive in coming days. Their deployment length has not yet been fixed, as we continue to consult with the Slovak government about more permanent air defense solutions.”
Subsequently, Austin spoke to Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad’ “to salute Slovakia for providing a critical S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. The two leaders discussed the important role the defensive system would play in supporting Ukraine and saving lives in that country,” reported the Pentagon readout. “Minister Nad’ thanked Secretary Austin for U.S. European Command’s upcoming repositioning of a U.S. Patriot system to Slovakia to help ensure deterrence and defense of NATO territory.”
