Slovenia goes into big investments in defense
According to unofficial information, Slovenia has already applied for the European Commission for triggering a national withdrawal clause, which will allow Member States to increase defense expenditure up to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) without limiting EU budgetary rules.
This option was announced in March by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen, When she represented a bundle of Europe’s re -arming. The reason for Slovenia’s decision is to invest higher investments in defense due to the continuation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the general security position in Europe and the world.
Slovenia traditionally at the tail
According to its current plans, Slovenia would only reach 2 percent of GDP investments in defense in 2030 (last year, according to NATO, they were 1.37 percent), but with accelerated investments it is expected to reach this level much faster – next year. According to the share of investments in defense, Slovenia is traditionally at the tail of the NATO scale.
Spain and Belgium, which have been at the bottom of the rankings so far, have recently announced that they will reach a two percent share this year. According to NATO Secretary -General forecasts Mark Rutte the new goal will be more than three percent of GDP. NATO NATO at the Wales Summit in 2014 set a goal to reach two percent in the decade.
Defense expenditure will be among the main topics of NATO 24. And 25 June in Hague. He will then prepare an updated burden report between allies in mid -June. The latter will cover updated reports and allies forecasts of fulfillment of the defense investment commitment.
At the NATO summit in June in Hague, leaders may reconcile that the goal of investing in defense will be higher than 3 percent of GDP. Photo Voranc Vogel
As explained at the permanent representative of Slovenia at NATO, « within the alliance and individual allies, they continue intensive reflections on the relevant (new) level of defense expenditure and national approaches to accelerate the strengthening of investments in defense. »
National reflections on an accelerated approach to strengthening defense expenditures are continuing in Slovenia, they explained. When decisions are made in Slovenia, the updated report of Slovenia will be submitted on the planned defense expenditures.
