11 Contemporary Military Challenges, May 2022 – 24/No. 1 Sodobni vojaški izzivi, maj 2022 – 24/št.1 EDITORIAL THE MILITARY Liliana Brožič DOI:10.33179/BSV.99.SVI.11.CMC.24.1.00 The first issue of the twenty-fourth volume of Contemporary Military Challenges is dedicated to the military. Due to the many changes in the international security environment, which significantly impact our primary environment in Slovenia and more broadly in the European Union, we have focused on topics that better explain our present and will have a significant impact on our future when it comes to defence and security. The armed forces and the military are an integral part of both. Some people, however, have a different perception of these topics because they are subconsciously reminiscent of violence, fear, death and everything associated with these concepts. Modern society strives for other values such as abundance, success, prosperity and the like. In times when the society is doing well and thriving in peace and abundance, few individuals stress the importance of national security, the functionality and effectiveness of the national security system, and the readiness of their armed forces. When the security situation deteriorates, the society usually intensively reacts only in the beginning. In the meantime, however, systems and institutions need to function and evolve continuously. In the recent years, we have witnessed some surprising changes in the security landscape, which have tested our readiness, responsiveness and resilience. Three of these changes include the European migrant crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic and the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Security mechanisms must respond appropriately to the changing security threats. Last year, the European Union and the Alliance have done so. The European Union has produced a Strategic Compass for Security and Defence to protect its citizens, values and interests, and contribute to international peace. In the Alliance, on the other hand, a new NATO’s Strategic Concept is being developed. In parallel with these documents, which govern the future security architecture in the broad international environment, new documents are being revised and produced in the Republic of Slovenia in 2022. In the first semester of this year, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Resolution on General Long-Term Development and Equipping Programme of the Slovenian Armed Forces up to 2035, the Medium- Term Defence Programme of the Republic of Slovenia 2022-2026, and took note 12 Sodobni vojaški izzivi/Contemporary Military Challenges of the Military Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia. These documents will have a significant impact on Slovenia’s security and defence over the next few years, but especially on the Slovenian Armed Forces, which represents the military instrument of national power. The latter contributes not only to national defence, but with its troops, equipment and capabilities also represents Slovenia’s contribution to common security in the Alliance and the European Union. The documents adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia are written to be implemented. A decade of promises about how much we will spend on defence in general and on the security, training and equipment of members of the Slovenian Armed Forces is, hopefully, over. The changed security environment in the immediate vicinity of the European Union and the Alliance suggests that security will have to be taken more seriously in both theoretical and practical terms. Fortunately, the military is the ultimate instrument of national power to counter a number of security threats. There are, however, also other instruments of national power that can play an important role in deterring threats, but even the most extreme of all measures must be effective and of good quality. The Military Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia will certainly contribute to this in the future. The document was drafted after a considerable reflection in all structures of the Slovenian Armed Forces and has made a significant contribution to the development of military strategic thought. Several articles relating to this document have been written throughout last year. This issue of Contemporary Military Challenges on the military brings some new ones, and, apparently, there will be many more in the future. Centre of gravity: from theoretical baseline to the practical application of the concept is the title of the article by Miha Šlebir who argues that the concept of centre of gravity is one of the fundamental pillars of contemporary military science. The long- standing practice in the field of planning and conduct of military operations, however, also brings certain dilemmas. The author presents the theories of this concept, its strengths and weaknesses, and tests them with the example of the first phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the article Analysis of the process of drafting the military strategy of the Republic of Slovenia, Bensad Šiniković builds on Procházko’s twelve principles. There are several different models on military strategy formulation processes. In the Republic of Slovenia, we already have experience with the drafting of the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia of 2019. We know some of the models only from a theoretical point of view, while others we have already tested in practice, also in the case of the draft Military Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia. The actual role of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, and the who and the how of commanding the Slovenian Armed Forces in the legal terms is examined by Uroš Krek in his article President of the republic of Slovenia as commander-in- chief of the defence forces. His role is very clearly defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, whereas its connection with the Defence Act is perhaps a Liliana Brožič 13 Sodobni vojaški izzivi/Contemporary Military Challenges THE MILITARY little less clear. The author provides an adequate explanation and interpretation of the legal acts and offers suggestions for possible amendments. Consistency in normative documents is essential for the coherence and transparency of a particular area of government activity. Stanislav Šantelj writes about this in his article Relationship between ends, ways and means - a case study of the military strategy of the Republic of Slovenia. Is everything that is agreed at the strategic level both nationally and internationally, viable, and what influence do the means have on this? Bernard Polanec discusses the Vision of mountain warfare development in the Slovenian Armed Forces. Theories, concepts and doctrines in various fields are constantly changing. Before anything changes, however, it is necessary to study several theories, compare lessons learned, formulate new proposals and organise quality discussions. The whole process can be repeated several times, thus contributing to the generation of new knowledge and literature. The author’s contribution draws on Slovenian geographical characteristics and years-long experience, which have resulted in a different perspective of the subject. Military knowledge is important. It is constantly evolving and advancing. Some of the topics should be kept confidential, but for those that are not, we invite future authors to share them with the readers of Contemporary Military Challenges.