BOXER DEAL: Slovenia withdraws

Slovenia cancels its agreement to purchase 45 armored personnel carriers (APC) of the Boxer type worth 281 million euros from the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).

The agreement for the purchase of Boxer armored vehicles was signed by the previous government in May. The country first announced plans to purchase the tanks after former Defense Minister Matej Tonin met with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in June 2021. Slovenia had initially opted for the variant also being introduced by Lithuania.

The new decision was made after an inspection ordered by the Ministry of Defense revealed that the contract price did not include all costs and that there was no adequate price comparison or explicit information on whether the vehicles were tested under real conditions as required by the national defense strategy.

"Our goal is to meet NATO's requirements for the capabilities of our combat troops, but not at any cost and certainly not with prototypes," said Prime Minister Robert Golob. "What we will be looking for in the future is how we can ensure these capabilities much more efficiently and inexpensively, and as compliant as possible with what the Slovenian army already has," he added.

The Boxer vehicles were supposed to form the backbone of a medium battalion that Slovenia must deploy in line with NATO commitments. Defense Minister Marjan Šarec stated that the ministry has been tasked with developing an alternative solution by the end of the year. However, according to the agreement, this decision is likely to force Slovenia to pay up to 70 million euros in the form of a fine.