On Tuesday, the Main Committee of the National Council approved a number of deployments of the Austrian Armed Forces to international missions. Deployments to Lebanon, Ukraine, the Western Balkans and many other regions of the world will thus continue in the coming year. The Main Committee subsequently took note of urgent deployments to Slovakia and Jamaica. The plans for exercises and training by the Austrian Armed Forces abroad were also discussed by the committee.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that Europe and Austria are confronted with ongoing instability in various regions. The focus of the deployments is therefore on the key regions for European and Austrian security, namely the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, the Middle East and North and West Africa. Freedom, security and prosperity do not begin at the national border. More international involvement is therefore needed, not less. Participation in foreign missions must remain a hallmark of Austrian foreign and security policy, said Meinl-Reisinger, who thanked the forces in the Austrian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner also thanked the soldiers for their courage, discipline and service. Participation in international missions is in line with the aim of the armed forces profile “strong at home, focused abroad”.
Deployments to Lebanon, Iraq and Libya
Up to 570 members of the Austrian Armed Forces will once again be deployed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 2026. The Main Committee unanimously gave the green light for this. The mission was extended for the last time until the end of 2026, followed by a one-year withdrawal phase.
The deployment of up to ten people from the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 members of the Austrian Armed Forces to NATO-mission in Iraq (NMI). This is a NATO training and advisory mission with a civilian component to support Iraq in the fight against terrorism.
The continuation of the deployment of up to five police officers as mission members and up to four other people from the Ministry of the Interior for support activities for the EU’s integrated border management mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) until the end of 2026 was unanimously approved.
Up to 40 members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 other members of the armed forces will also be deployed to the NATO initiative in Jordan (NATO DCB-I JOR) by the end of 2026. The aim is to build up capacities in the area of defense and security.
Peacekeeping force in Cyprus and maritime missions
Up to 58 members of the Austrian Armed Forces will continue to be deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until the end of 2026. This was unanimously approved by the Main Committee. The mission is intended to prevent the resumption of armed conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The Main Committee also approved the continued deployment of up to five members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 members of the Austrian Armed Forces to the EU military operation in the Red Sea (“EUNAVFOR Aspides”) until the end of 2026. The mission was established against the backdrop of attacks on numerous ships in the region by the Houthi.
The EU military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI) will also see up to 65 members of the Austrian Armed Forces deployed again in 2026 following the unanimous approval of the Main Committee. The focus of the operation is on enforcing the UN arms embargo against Libya.
Participation in missions in Ukraine and the South Caucasus region
Deployments to Ukraine and the South Caucasus region were also approved. Up to five police officers and up to four other members of the Ministry of the Interior are to continue to be deployed to the EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). The civilian mission within the framework of the CSDP is intended to support the Ukrainian authorities with reforms in the law enforcement sector and the civilian security sector, among other things.
The participation of up to three police officers, up to five members of the Austrian Armed Forces as observers and up to 50 other members of the Austrian Armed Forces in the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) will also be continued. The mission aims to stabilize areas affected by conflict and contribute to normalization.
Up to ten members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 members of the Austrian Armed Forces will continue to be deployed to the OSCE mission in the Republic of Moldova until the end of 2026. Among other things, projects in the areas of stockpile security and management of weapons and ammunition will be implemented as part of the program.
The EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM Moldova) will also continue to be supported in the coming year with up to five police officers, three members of the Austrian Armed Forces, four members of the Ministry of the Interior and up to 50 other members of the Austrian Armed Forces. The mission is intended to help strengthen the security sector in the Republic of Moldova.
Up to three police officers and up to five members of the Austrian Armed Forces as well as up to four other members of the Ministry of the Interior and up to 50 other people from the Austrian Armed Forces will be deployed to the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) until the end of 2026. In the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the civilian observation mission aims to reduce the number of incidents in the affected areas and reduce the risk to the population.
The secondment of up to ten members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 30 members of the Austrian Armed Forces to the OSCE Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic will also be continued. Among other things, the program office supports the country in dealing with transnational security threats and combating terrorism.
Continued strong presence in the Western Balkans
Members of parliament in the Main Committee unanimously approved Austria’s continued strong presence in the Western Balkans. As part of the multinational peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR), up to 600 members of the Austrian Armed Forces will once again be deployed in 2026. The main task of KFOR is to maintain a secure and stable environment in Kosovo. Austria’s continued participation in two further missions in Kosovo was also unanimously approved: one person from the Ministry of the Interior will be deployed to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as a Police Operations Liaison Officer and one member of the Ministry of Defense as well as up to 50 other members of the Austrian Armed Forces. Up to ten police officers and up to three people from the Ministry of Justice will take part in the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX KOSOVO).
Up to 700 members of the Austrian Armed Forces are to be deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the EU military operation EUFOR ALTHEA until the end of 2026. The operation is intended to prevent violent riots and maintain security and order. Up to 200 members of the Austrian Armed Forces will also continue to be deployed to the operational reserve forces for KFOR and EUFOR ALTHEA following unanimous approval.
The deployment of up to ten members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 members of the Austrian Armed Forces to the OSCE mission in Montenegro will also be continued. The mission supports Montenegro by advising, educating and training personnel in the areas of stockpile security and stockpile management of ammunition and weapons.
Postings to Mozambique and the Gulf of Guinea
Up to 30 members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 members of the armed forces will once again be deployed to the EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM Mozambique) until the end of 2026. The mission is intended to support the Mozambican armed forces in building capacity in order to establish security in the province of Cabo Delgado.
Militär Aktuell Podcast #13: Air Chief Generalmajor Gerfried Promberger im Gespräch
Participation in the EU Security and Defense Initiative to support the West African states of the Gulf of Guinea (EUSDI GoG) will also be extended for another year. Up to 30 members of the Ministry of Defense and up to 50 people from the Austrian Armed Forces will be deployed to support Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin in developing the capabilities of their security and defense forces and to curb pressure from terrorist groups.
Urgent postings in 2025
Two past missions were also discussed by the committee. These were cases of disaster relief due to hurricane Melissa in Jamaica in October and to contain foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia in March (-> AFDRU soldiers awarded service medals).
The main committee took unanimous note of both reports. In the case of urgent measures in the context of humanitarian or disaster relief, people can be sent directly following a decision by the government. However, the government must report to the Main Committee immediately. If the Main Committee were to raise an objection within two weeks, the secondment would have to be terminated.
Armed forces exercises and training abroad
In the coming year, members of the Austrian Armed Forces will take part in a total of 30 exercises and training measures abroad. This is set out in the exercise and training plan for 2026, which the Main Committee unanimously took note of. Two projects will take place within the framework of international organizations such as the UN and the OSCE, five within the framework of the EU, four within the framework of the NATO Partnership for Peace and 19 within the framework of bilateral or multinational cooperation. Austria plans to send between four and 150 people, depending on the measure. Around 150 members of the Austrian Armed Forces are to take part in the EU Battlegroup 2027 exercise in Belgium and Italy. Deployments to Poland, Norway, the USA and Senegal are also planned. The exercises and training are the basis for the successful deployment of the Armed Forces, emphasized Defence Minister Tanner in the committee.
The report on the implementation of the exercise and training plan in the past year was also unanimously approved. According to the report, members of the Austrian Armed Forces took part in 16 exercises and seven training measures abroad in 2024. 799 people were deployed, including 21 women. The Main Committee also unanimously took note of a report by the Minister of Defense on the deployment of members of the Armed Forces to an exercise in Germany in May 2025.
