Hagel Meets With Slovakian Defense Minister to Discuss NATO Investments

© AP Photo / Pablo Martinez MonsivaisDefense Secretary Chuck Hagel host an honor cordon to welcome the Slovakian Defense Minister Martin Glvac at the Pentagon, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel host an honor cordon to welcome the Slovakian Defense Minister Martin Glvac at the Pentagon, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015 - Sputnik International
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US Defense Department spokesperson announced that US Secretary of Defense and Slovakian Defense Minister have held a meeting at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON, January 9 (Sputnik) – US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Slovakian Defense Minister Martin Glvac have held a meeting at the Pentagon discussing a range of topics including Slovakia's NATO defense investment obligations, US Defense Department spokesperson, Rear Adm. John Kirby, has announced.

"Minister Glváč assured Secretary Hagel that Slovakia will fulfil the obligations to which they committed at the summit in Wales," Kirby said in a press release Thursday, adding that "Minister Glváč highlighted that Slovakia committed to spending 1.6 percent of GDP on defense by 2020, and by 2016 they plan to allocate 20 percent of the defense budget for modernization".

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According to Kirby, Hagel pledged to support the modernization of Slovakia's helicopter fleet. The US Secretary of Defense also thanked Glvac for Slovakia's contributions to specific NATO initiatives, including an offer to donate ammunition to support the fight against the Islamic State (IS) militant group and the planned deployment of 66 personnel to support the Government of Afghanistan.

At a summit in Wales in September, NATO members committed to certain levels of military spending and decided to strengthen capabilities in order to meet the alliance's collective security responsibilities, according to the summit's declaration.

At the Wales summit NATO members also agreed to set up the Spearhead Force, enabling the alliance to protect its member states by sending troops there within days or even hours if needed.

NATO has been strengthening its military presence in Eastern Europe amid the crisis in Ukraine, having accused Moscow of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs. Russia has repeatedly denied the claim, expressing concern over the buildup of NATO forces along its western border.

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