Slovakia deploys troops on the border with Hungary to deter migrants

Slovakia has deployed hundreds of soldiers and police officers on the border with Hungary to deter illegal migrants.

Deutsche Welle reported on this.

Newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that illegal migration must be controlled.

He noted that otherwise, people associated with “terrorist” groups could be entering the country.

Fico did not disclose the details of the deployment of troops on the border with Hungary but visited one of the checkpoints on Monday, October 30, late in the evening to inspect the arrangements.

“We want to send a clear signal that with the new government comes a new approach to illegal migration,” Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Interior Minister, said.

He added that “large forces” would be deployed to protect the areas bordering Hungary.

More and more people from the Middle East and Africa are trying to get to Europe in search of a better life due to military conflicts and economic instability.

In recent years, Slovakia has seen an increasing number of migrants and asylum seekers arrive, mostly from Serbia via Hungary, and heading for wealthier countries in Western Europe.

According to the government, in 2023, more than 40,000 illegal migrants were detected at Slovakia’s borders.

Earlier this month, the previous Slovak government resumed random checks on the border with Hungary. This decision was made after neighboring countries – Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland – reintroduced controls on their borders with Slovakia to curb migration.

The migration problem also started to worsen amid the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip.