At the Slovenian Armed Forces’ Main Training Area in Postojna and other military locations in the Postojna and Pivka regions, between October 28 and November 14, the international military exercises Clever Ferret 26 and Sokol 26 are taking place, bringing together approximately 750 service members from the armed forces of Slovenia, Albania, Italy, and Hungary. The purpose of the exercises is to test the units’ readiness to operate on the Alliance’s eastern flank and to strengthen interoperability among allied and partner forces.
As part of the preparations for the exercises, an assessment of readiness was conducted by an evaluation team on November 2; they reviewed the readiness of the 10th Slovenian contingent for Slovakia as well as key logistical and technical resources. These activities were designed to verify the readiness of personnel and ensure they met the requirements for further mission execution in the field.
The following day, the official opening ceremony for the Clever Ferret 26 and Sokol 26 exercises took place, marking the start of an intensive period of combined training. The commander of the 1st Brigade of the Slovenian Armed Forces and exercise director, Colonel Miha Rijavec, presented the participating personnel with official exercise patches on this occasion and emphasized the importance of international cooperation, mutual trust, and combined readiness to address contemporary security challenges.
Representatives of the local community and the Postojna Administrative Unit also attended the opening ceremony. Following the ceremony, a working meeting was held with the exercise leadership, during which they presented the schedule of activities and the significance of the exercises for the local community and the broader security environment.
During the Sokol 26 exercise, the Slovenian Armed Forces are developing the capabilities of the 10th Reconnaissance Battalion and testing the readiness of the reconnaissance company, while Clever Ferret 26 is a multinational exercise of the Multinational Land Forces of Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, and associated members, which this year is being conducted as a live fire tactical training exercise.
Participating units are training under demanding and realistic conditions with an emphasis on reconnaissance, security operations, the execution of offensive and defensive missions, combined command, and logistical support. The exercises represent an important part of the Preskok 26 series of military exercises and directly contribute to strengthening the operational readiness of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the integration of allied forces.
Combined training and capability assessments in a multinational environment reinforce readiness to respond effectively to modern security challenges and contribute to ensuring the security of the Republic of Slovenia and collective defense within the Alliance.
Both exercises are part of the final phase of this year’s main Slovenian Armed Forces exercise, Preskok 2026.
