Hungary will contribute ten trainers to the mission of the European Union (EU) in Mali, Minister of Defence Csaba Hende said at a press conference held in the morning of Thursday, February 14.

Minister Hende explained that the French and EU-led operations had already been high on the agenda of the informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday. Based on the discussions with the French partners and the partners within the European Union, Hungary – contrary to previous plans – will not send any troops to participate in the French-led Operation Serval, but rather will contribute ten trainers to the mission.

The Hungarian government may make a decision on the related proposal as early as next week. The mentor team – which is composed of six snipers, three medical specialists and one liaison officer – may travel to Mali around March.

Acting at the request of the President of Mali, France launched a military operation in the Western African country on January 11 to halt the advance of Islamist militias which are in control of the northern part of Mali. The objectives of the operation are to defend the statehood, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali, and to prevent the country from becoming the center of international terrorist groups in the region. The UN Security Council unanimously supported the military action.

On February 6, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the commercial radio Europe 1 that the 4000 French troops deployed in Mali “was the maximum” and their number “would not be increased”. He added that their withdrawal would begin “relatively quickly in a few weeks”. Speaking in a governmental session held on the same day, Head of State Francois Hollande reaffirmed that the troop withdrawal would begin in March.

(MoD Press Office – MTI)