DN - Defence Notes
Slovak government clashes over largest-ever arms purchase
Slovakia's prime minister clashed with the defence ministry on 30 November over a deal to acquire US-made F-16 jets in what is slated as the NATO member's biggest military purchase.
The defence ministry announced that it had concluded three agreements to buy 14 Lockheed Martin-made aircraft plus arms and training valued at €1.58 billion ($1.8 billion).
Hours later, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini issued a statement saying that the contracts were invalid because they had not been approved by the finance ministry.
‘Premier Pellegrini considers the contracts regarding the purchase of F-16 fighters signed earlier in the day by the defence ministry to be invalid for the moment, as the finance ministry still hasn't approved the deal,’ a statement said.
The defence ministry is headed by Peter Gajdos from the hard-right Slovak National Party, a junior coalition partner to Pellegrini's populist left SD-Smer Social Democracy.
Analysts suggested Friday that the clash was likely rooted in an internal power struggle within the coalition.
A former communist NATO and eurozone member of 5.4 million people, Slovakia is seeking to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-designed, Russian made MiG-29 fighter jets.
The US State Department approved the F-16 deal in April. Pellegrini's government had formally decided in July to go ahead with the purchase.
More from Defence Notes
-
Spain announces €7.3 billion defence spending plan
Spain's government has given the green light for a €7.3 billion renewal of military equipment which it portrayed as ‘social spending’ that will create thousands ...
-
Indian, Chinese troops share dance year after standoff
Indian and Chinese soldiers looked to have hit it off in their first joint exercises since a dangerous standoff last year, with videos released by ...
-
NATO-led troops on the move in northern Kosovo
Kosovo's NATO-led peacekeepers moved troops through the Serb-dominated north on 13 December, an AFP correspondent reported, amid high tensions with Serbia on the eve of ...
-
Kosovo tests Serbia with vote to build an army
Kosovo will vote 14 December on whether to create its own army, in a heavily symbolic show of independence from Serbia that has inflamed tensions ...
-
UN reports more suspected Iranian missiles found in Yemen
More suspected Iranian-made weapons have been found in Yemen, the UN says in a report that will be discussed on 12 December by the Security ...
-
North and South Korean soldiers enter each other's territory
Soldiers from North and South Korea crossed into each other's territory peacefully for the first time on 12 December, Seoul said, as they began checking ...