The 120 vehicle strong US military convoy, which is crossing six countries on its way back from operation Atlantic Resolve in the Baltic states, is now travelling through the Czech Republic. Dragoon Ride, a tour through European countries meant to demonstrate US resolve to protect NATO allies from what Washington labels Russian aggression in Europe.
The convoy, made up largely of the eight-wheeled armoured combat vehicles Strykers and Humvees crossed the Czech-Polish border after 10 am on Sunday and is heading for the towns of Výskov, Pardubice and Liberec where the approximately 500 US troops will spend the night at the Czech army’s military barracks. The convoy which is to demonstrate NATO unity and US commitment to stability in Europe, will spend four days in the Czech Republic before heading for its home base in Bavaria.
Both supporters and protesters are expected to line parts of the route but, according to a recent survey conducted by the STEM agency released on Thursday 82 % of Czechs said they have no problem with the convoy passing through.
The protesters accuse the USA and NATO of ‘pursuing their own interests’ and ‘escalating a war conflict in Europe’, while their supporters say that U.S. soldiers are ensuring peace in Europe and ‘protecting the small Czech Republic from crazy Putin’.
On March 24 the military convoy travelled through the Polish city of Bialystok which is 50 km from the Belarusian border.
www.belsat.eu/en/, following Radio Praha
