The Czech Republic is sending 650 soldiers to help Slovakia protect its border with Ukraine. The troops will be heading a fresh NATO contingent in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This coming Monday, the partnership between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, known as the Visegrád Group will celebrate 30 years of existence. The V4, as the group is commonly referred to, reached the goals it originally set out achieve by the mid-2000s, but its member states have since continued to work together, recognising that there is value in unity within the European Union’s framework.
The formation of the Visegrád Group
In 1335 the kings of Bohemia, Hungary and Poland met at the castle of Visegrád on the Danube. The congress was triggered by the expansion of Habsburg power in the region and the three rulers agreed on pursuing mutual cooperation and friendly relations.