President Meets NATO Deputy Secretary-General, Presents NOS Training Project

Bratislava, 16 July (TASR) – President Peter Pellegrini met with NATO Deputy Secretary-General Boris Ruge on Wednesday during a training session of the National Defense Forces (NOS), in which the President has been participating as a volunteer reservist-in-training, at the Turecky vrch training area. Accompanied by Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD), Pellegrini presented the NOS project, which he said Ruge found impressive. TASR learnt the news from the Presidential Office’s press department on the same day. „We in Slovakia want to prevent our young people from being forced into compulsory military service, which is why we introduced this voluntary National Defense Forces program,” Pellegrini explained. The meeting also addressed the development of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Indirect Fire. „Slovakia is an expert in this area, producing some of the most accurate Zuzana 2 howitzers, automatic mortars, and more,” Pellegrini noted. According to the President's Office, the discussion also covered Slovakia's implementation of increased defense spending. Slovak officials briefed Ruge on upcoming deliveries for the armed forces. Pellegrini stated that Slovakia will focus on building dual-use infrastructure. mf