White Paper on Defence of the Slovak Republic - 2016

The Security Council of the Slovak Republic and the SVK Government adopted the White Paper on Defence of the Slovak Republic, providing a political-strategic and resourceful framework for a long-term development of the State's defence. It sets out a strategic vision and initial comprehensive measures for increasing the defence capabilities of the Slovak Republic, while concurrently being an important driver in implementing the SVK GOV Manifesto Commitments. The White Paper accumulates the implementation outcomes of its previous 2013 version and is updated to include the development intents in line with the priorities of the SVK GOV Manifesto Commitments. It takes account of the latest decisive change in the security environment and the related measures adopted by the SVK Government, as well as those by NATO and the EU.

The document was finalised after a broad public debate. In it, the MOD had involved the MPs from the Committee on Defence and Security of the SVK National Council, former Defence Ministers, State Secretaries, CHODs, representatives of NGOs, including the civic associations with professional links to Armed Forces, as well as officials from selected specialist organisations and the Slovak Security and Defence Industry Association. The White Paper contains initial postulates for preparation of other strategic, conceptual and planning documents and draft proposals to shape the legal framework of the State's defence. Last but not least, it has an ambition to promote the wider public awareness of the State's defence and to provide our international partners with a basic picture of Slovakia's readiness and determination to deliver on Allied and other international commitments.