Austria’s media reported on Wednesday that nine US military personnel were stopped at Vienna’s Schwechat airport while trying to travel with army weapons to Ukraine without any necessary permits.
“By unintentional oversight, the necessary clearances required for transiting Austria were not properly processed prior to their departure. The Austrian authorities were very helpful in resolving this issue,” Westover explained.
The spokesperson continued, the Marines were stopped on July 19 while travelling on NATO travel orders through Vienna on commercial flights from Alaska to Ukraine. The group was scheduled to participate in Exercise Saber Guardian in Ukraine, he added.
Austrian Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Michael Bauer said that there were problems with a connecting flight, and the soldiers had to leave the transit area and rebook.
M16 assault rifles and pistols were discovered in the luggage of the American soldiers at a security checkpoint, according to the Kurier newspaper's report on Wednesday.
“The Marines have since returned to their home duty station in Alaska,” Westover said. “US European Command and the US Embassy in Vienna are grateful for the support of the Austrian Government to coordinate the onward movement of nine US Marines last week.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that NATO members must realize that the ongoing military drills in Ukraine could undermine a peaceful settlement to the conflict in the south-east of the country.
Kiev has repeatedly requested lethal aid from the United States. Washington has denied the requests, saying it will provide Kiev only with non-lethal support.
