The shape of the Slovak Armed Forces is improving, as important strategic decisions were taken, Chief of General Staff Daniel Zmeko claimed at a Thursday's commander meeting. In the following period, Zmeko expects significant improvement of the operational readiness, which will be aided also by the recruitment of more soldiers and the completion of several modernisation procurements. President and Commander-in-Chief Zuzana Caputova and Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad also attended the meeting. Defence Minister discussed additional necessary investments that must be made in cargo vehicles, rifles, ammunition and anti-air defence systems. He added there might be an extraordinary increase in the defence budget this year, meaning that defence spending could reach two percent of Slovakia's GDP. According to the Slovak president, Zuzana Caputova, never in the era of the independent Slovakia has it been more important for the Slovak Armed Forces to be able to meet their purpose than today - to stand ready to defend Slovakia or help defend one of its allies. However, Slovakia is still waging the greatest fight for its security and defence at home, stated the president, adding that the debate around the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States or the one continuing around the war in Ukraine has only uncovered the extent of “the enemy's hybrid war on our soil".
Source: TASR
