NATO's criticism directed towards the Slovak Armed Forces is nothing new for the Defence Ministry, stated the ministry's spokesperson Danka Capáková last week in response to NATO's summarising evaluation report. It was published on Facebook by Martin Dubéci of the non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia (PS) party. Capákova added that the long-term shortage of funding as well as neglect for the defence area as such are the main reasons behind the poor state of the Slovak Armed Forces. The ministry refused to comment on the authenticity of the published document, as it "respects the regulations of the National Security Authority and NATO", according to which a summarising evaluation report can be made available to certain people, but not to the general public. NATO in the report stated that the building of a heavy infantry brigade, which was supposed to be the main priority of the Slovak Armed Forces, has been too slow and that the number of soldiers and military doctors is insufficient.
Capákova also said that when compared to previous reports, NATO had evaluated the defensive plans more positively over the last two years. According to her, the Defence Ministry's management has been approaching the modernisation process systematically in line with the Long-term Defence Development Plan with an emphasis on the construction and development of the Slovak Armed Forces until 2030, approved by the Security Council and the Government. The fact that the commitment to build a medium-sized infantry brigade has been shifted since 2004 is the result of the previous inconsistent modernisation process, stated the spokesperson.
