Slovakia has become one of the leading ammunition producers within NATO thanks to major investments in its defense industry, President Peter Pellegrini said after a meeting of the Bucharest Nine (B9) countries. He stressed that the alliance remains united despite perceived tensions and highlighted the need to strengthen the European pillar of NATO by boosting defense responsibility and spending. Slovakia is preparing a new long-term development plan for its armed forces that will reflect gradual increases in both defense and dual-use investments.
According to the president, a key challenge for NATO is the insufficient capacity of the defense industry. Even with large budgets, countries cannot rapidly increase military spending because production capacity cannot yet meet demand. Slovakia has significantly invested in this sector, which now accounts for nearly three percent of the country’s GDP. As a result, Slovakia supplies ammunition to Ukraine on a commercial basis “in the millions,” with volumes expected to grow, while also learning from Ukraine’s modern warfare experience to strengthen its own armed forces.
Pellegrini emphasized that the quality of defense spending matters as much as the overall percentage of GDP. In Slovakia, 34 percent of defense spending is directed toward modernization. Although the country cannot match defense spending levels of nations such as Poland or the Baltic states, he noted that Slovakia has ten years to gradually and responsibly increase spending while meeting NATO commitments.
The president also highlighted new capabilities Slovakia is developing, including domestic production of drones capable of countering other drones in cooperation with innovative Slovak companies and the Aviation Repair Plant Trenčín. He stressed the need for legislative changes so the armed forces can respond effectively to threats even in peacetime. Pellegrini also discussed the importance of continuing NATO missions, particularly KFOR in the Western Balkans, due to the still-unstable situation near the Kosovo-Serbia border.
During the Black Sea Defence, Aerospace and Security exhibition in Bucharest, Pellegrini praised Slovakia’s role in developing the VLAH light armored tactical vehicle for the Romanian army. He highlighted the country’s competitive advantage in creating projects and transferring production abroad in cooperation with international partners. According to him, Slovakia is returning to its industrial roots by designing advanced defense technologies and collaborating on their manufacturing overseas.
The VLAH vehicle, developed by Zetor Slovensko, is based on the Gerlach armored vehicle design currently being tested by the Slovak armed forces. Although the vehicle will be produced in Romania, the Slovak company involved in its development will benefit financially from the project, demonstrating Slovakia’s growing role as both a defense innovator and partner in international military cooperation.
Source: TASR
