3.4 Planning Assumptions for Ensuring National Defence 93) The fundamental change of the security environment in Europe and the worsening of the security situation in her neighbourhood require an increased ability of the Slovak Republic to defend itself. The basic planning assumption necessary for achieving future AF SR capabilities is the politicomilitary ambition of the Slovak Republic, in accordance with which and depending on the situation, Slovak authorities may decide on employing the AF SR on the following scales: • in operations in defence of the Slovak Republic – full scale of capacity, • in collective defence operations in defence of an Ally in case of armed attack – on a scale consistent with international commitments, • in non-article 5 NATO led operations, and also missions and operations of the EU and the UN - on a scale declared by the Slovak Republic, • in case of non-military emergencies on the territory of the Slovak Republic - on an adequate scale. To these ends the AF SR will be divided according to readiness levels. In order to enhance the ability of the Slovak Republic to defend itself it is imperative to provide adequate defence spending 94) In order to enhance the ability of the Slovak Republic to defend itself it is imperative to provide adequate defence spending primarily focused on investing in major military equipment and in training. These are the basic conditions that must be met in order to increase the quality of AF SR capabilities, their war-fighting potential and their overall level of readiness for national defence. 95) While respecting the important principle of fair burden sharing of NATO efforts, including contributing to threat prevention and ensuring security, the key indicator of which is the level of defence spending, Slovakia will increase its share of this common effort in the context of the evolution of the security environment and the possibilities of its national economy. 96) Slovakia reaffirms its political commitment to the Defence Investment Pledge (2014) agreed upon by NATO member states and accepted in the NATO Political Guidance (2015). This commitment binds Slovakia to halt any decline in defence spending and aim to increase defence spending in real terms as GDP grows and also to aim, within a decade, to move towards the 2% of GDP guideline level of defence spending. This commitment also entails the aim to increase, within a decade, the annual investment in major new equipment, including related research and development expenditure (equipment expenditure) to 20% or more of total defence spending. 97) Slovak defence spending will increase in both real terms and as a percentage of GDP according to the needs of the defence the Slovak Republic and allied commitments. This increase will be determined by the state of 46 WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE