Modernisation of the Slovene army
Slovenia is in the midst of constructing a comprehensive national
defence system that, coupled with membership in Euro-Atlantic
political and defence integration processes, should ensure a higher
degree of security for Slovenians. In the defence field, Slovenia is
currently connecting the basic elements of a defence system into a
consistent, rational and effective institutional framework. This is
the country's current priority and strategic task.
The chief strategic goal of Slovenia in the defence and military
field is to shape a modern, effective, fully voluntary, yet
financially manageable military unit. The aim is to make this force
capable of ensuring national defence, integrating into a system of
collective defence and contributing to stability in its strategic
environment and the region. With the measures it is taking, Slovenia
is adhering to the principle of quality rather than quantity- based
defence policy, with a focus also on overall capacity. The country has
surely taken a step in the right direction in this regard - its main
achievement is the establishment of a more plausible armed forces
structure, with a greatly reduced force. Slovenia gives absolute
priority to forces comprised for operations in support of peace and
collective defence under the helm of NATO. What is more, the country
has also adopted the required legislative and development-oriented
strategic documents. Progress has also been made in the evolution of a
defence planning system, which has been given the needed stability
with the adoption of a flexible two-year state budget. The Slovenian
Ministry of Defence is drafting strategies that will last through 2015
and should ensure that the structure of the armed forces suits the
needs of the new defence environment after 2007, and in turn provide a
starting point for working within the common framework of NATO.
Slovenia's membership in the system of collective defence is the
premise on which the current constitutive, developmental, strategic
and doctrinal documents for continued development of the defence
system and, foremost the Slovenian Armed Forces, are based. An
integral part of defence reforms involves the gradual and deliberate
transition to a professional army with a voluntary reserve corps. This
process is linked to security guarantees attained within the system of
collective defence. The government has adopted a decision to abolish
the compulsory military service term - served by Slovenian men - by
June 2004, while the obligatory reserve service will remain in place
until 2010. The Armed Forces' plan is to achieve a fully professional
peacetime make-up by 2008, while the voluntary reserve should be
formed two years later. The planned changes are backed with adequate
financial resources. As part of the financial measures, Slovenia plans
to gradually raise defence spending so that it reaches two percent of
GDP by 2008.
Slovenia is aspiring to enter NATO with all the values, goals,
traits, capabilities and potential that it has become known
for. Slovenian membership in the Alliance counts for something -
foremost it should represent political and economic stability, coupled
with developmental effects that the country can pass on to a region
that still has a way to go. Slovenia's contribution is expected to be
relatively small compared to that of other members from a military and
defence point of view. However, this is not the only measure. The
measure should be its quality, reliability and capacity to work
collectively with other allies. "We are betting on quality and
not quantity," Slovenian Defence Minister Anton Grizold has
reiterated on a number of occasions. Today, Slovenia is heading
towards a fully professional armed forces which will be small, modern,
effective, financially feasible and qualified for the whole range of
Alliance tasks.
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