Slovenia cancels multimillion-dollar deal to buy Boxer, but still loses a considerable amount
The Slovenian government has officially announced the cancellation of a €350 million contract for the purchase of 45 Boxer 8x8 armoured personnel carriers through the Organisation for Co-operation in Defence and Security (OCCAR). In a statement released on Thursday, the acquisition was called "ill-advised".
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The government's decision resulted in the loss of €4 million that had already been paid under the contract. The government said the move ends a controversial procurement process initiated by the previous administration.
The contract for the armoured personnel carriers, manufactured by German companies Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland, was signed by Matej Tonin, the defence minister of the previous centre-right government, in May 2022, shortly before the end of his term. The deal was one of the last major decisions of the government before the transfer of power.
Boxer. Illustration: OCCAR
In September 2022, the new government announced its intention to review the contract, citing doubts about its cost-effectiveness and relevance to the country's defence needs.
OCCAR, the multinational organisation that manages the Boxer programme, oversees joint defence projects involving member states such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
The Slovenian government has stressed that it will focus on alternative ways to modernise its defence system, taking into account both economic feasibility and strategic priorities.
Source: STA
