by Cristiana Missori

(ANSA) - UDINE - Italy, Slovenia and Hungary will work together to strengthen the defence strategies throughout Central and Eastern Europe. This is the task of the Multinational Land Force (MLF), multinational unit based in Udine, that from June 23 to July 5 will be engaged in the Slovenia, from Postojna to Murska Sobota, in the great military drill 'Clever Ferret 2014' which will employ 1,300 soldiers, of which 800 from Italy. The MLF Command will be deployed in Maribor, where it will co-ordinate the activities conducted by the three countries taking part in the coalition.

'Clever Ferret' is the largest EU's 'square bashing' at a Brigade level. Every year the staff of the Command MLF, largely drawn from the Command of the Alpine Brigade "Julia" and reinforced by specialists coming from Alpine troops and from other Departments of the Italian Army, and by Slovenian and Hungarian staff, is trained in a military drill in order to test the ability to plan, refine all the procedures for the operation management, increase the co-operation among international forces and assess their state of readiness.

During 16 years of activity, operation standards were much improved. Three armies once deployed under different flags (the Warsaw Pact for Hungary, the NATO for Italy, Yugoslavia for Slovenia), are all now NATO members and can be integrated at the highest levels. Adopting the same procedures and speaking the same language was not so easy.

But the fact of having a multinational force, the first at European level, certainly allows some savings and higher standards. Member countries contribute (Slovenia and Hungary), respectively, with 20% of the personal staff of the Command and some support units, while the Commander, the Chief of Staff and the remaining staff (60%) are guaranteed by Italy and mainly by the Alpine Brigade "Julia".

During the next military drill, the integration and synergy of the countries will be enhanced thanks to the use and training of specialist Italo-Slovene-Hungarian units such as a sniper platoon, a mortar unit, a platoon against tanks, a ranger detachment for special operations, corps of engineers for mine and explosive device clearance, attack and transport helicopters, a team of aircraft and attack helicopter pilots against ground targets, a special team dedicated to training sessions for security forces belonging to the country which is involved in the mission.

Slovenians and Hungarians provide for an infantry battalion each, which play as maneuver units. The 'square bashing' this year simulates the operation of a multinational force in a foreign country, which has the mission to assist and train its security forces. By supporting, therefore, the final stages of a process that has now come to an end. Just like in Afghanistan.

The MLF could be deployed in any area of ??crisis, if Italy decided to intervene.

"We can call it a lab - said General Ignazio Gamba, Commander of the Alpine Brigade 'Julia' and of the MLF - which can be quite useful in order to consolidate the positions you have gained and manage situations of post-transition and support local forces, in areas where the local police have been entrusted with the control of the territory".

Two observer countries, Austria and Croatia, will participate in the mission this year, but some other countries have already expressed their interest in joining the coalition. (ANSA).