The Slovenian Armed Forces undergo a health check each year to see how well prepared the force is for peacetime and wartime operations. This year's assessment is a three out of four, with a positive trend, but there is broad agreement that more must be done.

The report, unveiled on 27 March, notes that the force continues to grapple with understaffing, equipment shortages and underfunding. However, the situation is improving and would improve further with more investment.

"Investments dictate the pace of efficiency and development of the fighting force ... and ultimately they are also a reflection of Slovenia's credibility in NATO," Lt-Gen Robert Glavaš, chief of the general staff, said as he presented the report to President Nataša Pirc Musar.

In 2024 a gradual, systematic increase of financial resources for defence continued, which is important. He is convinced that by increasing financial resources and investments, the existing shortcomings can be mitigated in the coming years, according to Glavaš.

Pirc Musar, the commander-in-chief, likewise said that the investment situation had stabilised, and the planned financial resources and planned acquisitions point to further modernisation of the force in the coming years.

Last year the strategic defence documents were updated and the army implemented its key tasks, which include training, participation in international engagements abroad and assistance to other authorities, especially in protection and rescue, she said.

The number of new recruitments shows the positive effects of the recruitment measures. "Slovenia is among the most successful NATO allies in recruiting new personnel, but additional efforts will be needed in this area in the future," she said.

The disparities that still exist are largely due to the fact that the force was neglected in the past.

Higher defence spending inevitable

The report comes in the midst of debates in the EU and NATO about the need to significantly raise defence spending due to a belligerent Russia and given that the United States is withdrawing its security umbrella from Europe.

Slovenia's defence spending for this year is estimated at 1.53% of GDP, rising to 1.6% next year, well short of NATO's long-standing 2% target.

Slovenia's current plan is to raise the share to 2% until 2030, but Prime Minister Robert Golob has said that the target will have to be reached sooner.

Indeed, due to the altered geopolitical situation, NATO members are being urged to spend much more, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently saying that spending should be "considerably more than 3%".

Defence Minister Borut Sajovic said the existing reform of security and defence was already producing tangible and measurable results. "I am confident that we are on the right track, but there is still a lot of work to be done," he said at the report presentation.