Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď holds talks with CZE Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar on supporting projects through domestic defence industry

"The shared values-based foreign policy orientation of the Slovak and Czech Republics is visible also in their stances on tackling current issues and challenges in the field of defence and security, which predestines both countries to even closer and deeper cooperation," said Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď today during his meeting with CZE Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar on the occasion of his first official visit to the Czech Republic. At the meeting, they consulted closely on projects and possible areas of cooperation in support of the SVK and CZE defence industries.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: "After the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic measures, I am very pleased to have met in person, for the first time today, my counterpart and learnt more about the goals and visions of the CZE Ministry of Defence. It was an excellent opportunity to discuss ways of further developing mutual ties, especially in the politico-military area." At the same time, he thanked Minister Metnar for the efficient and effective collaboration on repatriating hundreds of SVK citizens during the pandemic. "A significant milestone of the bilateral relations between Slovakia and Czechia was also the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation in Mutual Protection of Airspace," added Minister Naď.

On the Visegrad Group, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď affirmed his appreciation for the very high level of the V4 defence cooperation and the dynamics of the Czech V4 Presidency. "The Czech Presidency has built on the previous SVK one in many ways. I am pleased that this cooperation can advance continually," he added. On the CZE V4 Presidency, he appreciated the initiative to review the strategic document "Long Term Vision of the Visegrad Countries on Deepening their Defence Cooperation". He continued: "Over the past months we have witnessed how necessary it is for us to approach current challenges, not only those in the field of defence and security, in a complex manner and find effective solutions together."

During the discussion with his Czech colleague, Minister Naď presented the SVK MOD's priorities and objectives and informed him about the impact of the pandemic on the defence budget and the MOD's ambition to deliver on its international commitments. He also filled him in on the drafting of the new SVK Military Strategy and SVK Security Strategy. In this context, he praised the deployments of SVK and CZE armed forces on international crisis management operations.

The subject of the meeting was supporting and developing the cooperation between both defence industries, also in the context of the Czech Republic's recent award of contract for howitzers, when the French product was preferred to Slovakia's ZUZANA 2 Self-propelled Gun Howitzer. "We are sorry for this decision as we stand behind the quality of our defence industry products. That is why I hope our domestic production will find a market also with our partners in the future," said Minister Naď, stressing that the MOD sees the involvement of domestic defence companies in modernisation programmes as a fundamental condition for any of its acquisitions.

As part of the two-day trip to the Czech Republic, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď also held a meeting with Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the CZE Parliament Pavel Fischer.