Prague, Aug 12 (CTK) – The Czech military may deploy up to 2,600 troops in the event of an emergency situation and a large influx of refugees, Czech Television (CT) said Wednesday, referring to a report drafted by the Defence Ministry.
However, the report warned that such a number would threaten the fulfilment of the military’s other commitments.
President Milos Zeman said in early August that the military was able to send up to 1,500 soldiers to protect the Czech border.
However, the step is not being considered.
Due to the increased influx of refugees, the Czech Republic recently passed the first degree of the relevant measures, while only the third degree plans the deployment of the military to protect the national border.
Its declaration is not being envisaged, but maybe the second degree will be declared. This would involve sending some more police to the areas with a high number of refugees.
On Tuesday, Zeman and Milan Stech, chairman of the Senate, and Jan Hamacek, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, agreed on the Czech Republic having to be prepared for a thorough protection of its border.
Stech said the Czech border could be reinforced in the form of special exercises of the military.
At present, the Czech military has roughly 21,000 soldiers and it is supposed to recruit another 2,000 by the end of the year.
