Czech mate

摘要

The Czech Republic has played a substantial role in combating the troubles overseas since joining NATO in 1999. In fact, in 2009, 865 of the Czech Republic's 975 land force personnel were involved in NATO-led operations: 410 personnel were in the Western Balkans region, and 480 members of the Czech Armed Forces were stationed in Afghanistan, where they continue to be involved.Foreign support is an area that the Czech Ministry of Defence is evidently keen to continue, and it was announced in September that plans to maintain forces abroad until at least 2013 had been approved by Parliament. This will mean up to 720 soldiers will be deployed in Afghanistan in 2011, reducing to 640 in 2012.