Up to 200 Slovenian military personnel are to be deployed to Slovakia as part of NATO's eFP in Slovakia

Up to 200 Slovenian military personnel, twice the original strength target, are to be deployed to Slovakia as part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence, which the North Atlantic Alliance is standing up in Slovakia at our request, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď confirmed today after a bilateral meeting with his Slovenian counterpart Matej Tonin at the Ministry of Defence in Bratislava.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Today’s meeting was not only about some hints, but about very concrete cooperation. In the coming weeks, we will be taking steps to support the operational deployment of Slovenian troops to Slovakia. This theme is taking our bilateral relationship in the field of defence to a higher level.” He went on to appreciate the collaborative efforts of both countries as they work together to aid Ukraine.

Slovenian Defence Minister Matej Tonin said: “At the level of the Government, we have decided to deploy an entire company to Slovakia, or up to 200 soldiers to be exact. Slovenia will thus help reinforce the Alliance’s eastern flank.” According to him, Europe is paying a high price for the war in Ukraine. He announced that Slovenia is ready to send humanitarian aid to Slovakia to help alleviate the pressures and consequences of the high inflow of refugees.

Ministers Naď and Tonin used the time to reflect on the events in Ukraine in relation to the role of their armed forces. “Defence spending in the amount of 2% of GDP on defence is a minimum base. This is particularly essential even from the perspective of Armed Forces modernisation,” Mr Naď said. On Slovakia's equipment plan, Minister Tonin praised the processes in place for the next years.

On the subject of the EU and NATO, the ministers discussed the fundamental decisions directed towards a change in the approach to defence on the Alliance's eastern flank, including in new strategic documents. In agreement with his counterpart, Minister Naď emphasised: “The new reality Russia has brought to the whole of Europe must be clearly reflected in these steps and documents, so that it is absolutely clear who cares about peace, democracy and freedom and who is the principal invader and aggressor.”