GERMAN
ENGLISH
On October 26, 2023, the Austrian Council of Ministers decided to further extend the Federal Army's foreign deployments. Around 770 soldiers and 30 soldiers are currently working in 16 foreign missions to ensure stability and security in crisis regions in Europe and Africa, in the Middle East and in the Caucasus region. In addition, the Federal Army in Austria has reinforcements available for international tasks.
“Austria is committed to actively participating in international peace operations to deal with crises and to secure peace in order to meet the new challenges of the 21st century. Overcoming current security policy challenges can only be achieved through international cooperation within the European network. This means that, in addition to the main task of national military defense, participation in international peacekeeping operations is also a significant priority for the Federal Army. Austria's soldiers have always proven to be reliable partners. I am pleased that we as a government are continuing to consistently pursue this path,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
The foreign missions of the Federal Army
Since 1960, over 100.000 women and men have been on over 100 different missions abroad: under the care of the UN, and increasingly also the EU, NATO, the OSCE or other organizations. For example, soldiers serve abroad in Austria's three major foreign missions led by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under NATO leadership in the Kosovo mission and in the UN Blue Helmet mission in Lebanon. At the beginning of the 1990s, foreign missions - after military national defense - became one of the main tasks of the Federal Army. The great importance of foreign missions has an impact on military organization and training in many areas.
