Ministry of Defence to push ahead with major development projects

The Ministry of Defence leadership and senior military commanders met to discuss the lines of advancement for Defence. The Ministry of Defence wants to focus on personnel and material support, including on major investments in long-neglected infrastructure and equipment, Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko and Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď announced after the Annual Meeting of Commanders chaired by the Chief of Defence, in the presence of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces Zuzana Čaputová.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “I am aware that in discharging their duties and living up to the words of the Oath of Allegiance, our military professionals need not only morale but also personnel and technical support. Therefore, I believe that we will be successful in implementing the planned increase in the total strength of the Slovak Armed Forces, so that they can disperse their strength in increasingly overstretched situations.”

Military personnel are expected to hold themselves to enormously high standards. However, Mr Naď admitted that, without high quality and advanced equipment, performance of personnel may be severely limited. “Such a limitation could result in the State's failure to rescue human lives. We cannot allow this to happen. That is why we will push ahead with major modernisation projects such as building a Mechanised Brigade, reconstructing defence infrastructure, and investing in military equipment and clothing,” he added.

To facilitate stable and systemic development, the MOD aims to reach 2% of GDP on defence in the coming period and provide a clear confirmation of the Euro-Atlantic anchor of security for the Slovak Republic. “We are a NATO member, we are not afraid to say that, and we are not afraid at all to openly name the threats we are obliged to eliminate. After 15 years our strategic documents – the SVK Defence Strategy and the SVK Security Strategy have been approved, forming the basis for creating essential measures to the benefit of our State,” emphasised Minister Naď.

Commenting on the stagnation in the military due to insufficient manning levels, the delays in modernisation programmes, and the difficulties in sustaining the operation of outdated equipment, Chief of Defence said: “The Slovak Armed Forces have been understaffed and have, since long, grappled with huge infrastructure deficiencies which became fully manifest in performance of tasks last year – all this must be viewed in the context of the complicated and unstable security environment with a negative outlook.”

In addressing these issues, Gen Zmeko appreciated the MOD's constructive and pro-active approach to the stabilisation and development of the Slovak Armed Forces as well as the determination of all military personnel who, despite being deployed in the fight against the pandemic, have continued to deliver all tasks and international commitments. “After our extensive assistance in combating COVID-19, we have managed to resume training by holding two extensive international exercises almost immediately after the end of our domestic crisis management operations, which attests to the readiness of the Slovak Armed Forces to undertake all assigned tasks,“ said Gen Zmeko.