Slovakia’s defence spending likely to reach 2% of GDP

Slovakia's defence spending is likely to reach two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 for the first time. As Minister of Defence Jaroslav Naď (OĽANO) explained in an interview with TASR, several factors have had an impact on this, such an increase in defence spending as compared to the plan, a declining GDP this year, and extraordinary measures taken in connection with the pandemic. Next year, Slovakia will return to the standard process, which expects to reach two percent by 2024 in accordance with country's commitment to NATO. The figure of two percent is based on long-term recalculations by NATO defence planning experts, and represents the amount needed to maintain a state of defence. Since 2004, however, when it joined NATO, Slovakia has not reached this stipulated amount in expenditures. According to Nad' this can be seen, for example, in the country's older technology and neglected barracks.