In a shift in policy, Slovenian authorities have decided to abandon a referendum plan concerning the country’s goal to raise defense spending to 3% of its GDP by 2030.
This move coincides with ongoing negotiations in Ljubljana for what would be Slovenia’s largest-ever military purchase—around 106 AMV XP armored vehicles from Finland’s Patria, valued at approximately €695 million ($592 million).
On July 18, Slovenia’s National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, voted to cancel the non-binding referendum. The initiative had earlier been approved by lawmakers after being introduced by a small left-wing party within the ruling coalition.
However, Prime Minister Robert Golob, leader of the government’s dominant liberal party, opposed the referendum, arguing that Slovenia has already pledged to increase defense spending in line with NATO obligations. He criticized the referendum question as “unclear and misleading,” according to an official government statement.
Simultaneously, the Slovenian government is pursuing a deal for new 8×8 armored vehicles to strengthen its ground forces. A letter of intent was signed with Finland in February. In preparation for this acquisition, Slovenia officially terminated a 2022 agreement to purchase 45 Boxer armored vehicles through the multinational Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
On July 22, the Ministry of Defence confirmed to the state news agency STA that Slovenia has fully exited the Boxer deal. Under NATO commitments, Slovenia must establish its first battalion battle group by 2027 and a second by 2030, both of which are to be equipped with new armored vehicles.
