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Slovenia to increase defense budget: minister
By Xinhua Published: Sep 22, 2023 11:13 AM
A police dog handler demonstrates his skills during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)

A police dog handler demonstrates his skills during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
Soldiers demonstrate the destruction of a tank with light anti-tank weapons during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)

Soldiers demonstrate the destruction of a tank with light anti-tank weapons during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
A soldier demonstrates how to load a cannon with a shell during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)

A soldier demonstrates how to load a cannon with a shell during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
Soldiers demonstrate attacking a fortified position during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)

Soldiers demonstrate attacking a fortified position during the SOBRA international fair in Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, on Sept. 21, 2023. Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
Slovenia will increase its defense budget, the country's Minister of Defense Marjan Sarec said at the biennial four-day SOBRA international fair focusing on the areas of defense, security, protection and rescue that opened on Thursday.

"The time we live in demands from us an increasing readiness to face new challenges. The SOBRA fair offers a chance to get acquainted with new technologies and modern equipment," Sarec said in his opening remarks.

"We realize that it is necessary to invest in security, protection, rescue and defense in peaceful times -- we will increase the resources even more. Security is a basic commodity, citizens deserve safety," he said.

At the fair, 120 exhibitors from 11 countries present their security and defense products, which include electronic and optical security equipment, alarm systems, fire trucks, medical trucks, medical equipment, weapons, army vehicles and fire, earthquake and flood rescue equipment. DJI's camera drone, exclusively represented by Slovenia's Onedrone company, is also on display at the fair.

Slovenia's army, police and fire brigades are participating with presentations of their units, work and equipment. Visitors can mount armored vehicles and tanks and can also watch police officers simulate subduing criminals with bare hands.

Slovenia, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 2004, plans to increase its defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, up from 1.35 percent today.

The country also needs to increase its protection and rescue spending after it experienced the worst floods in its history in August this year and a huge forest fire that lasted for more than two weeks in July 2022.