Slovakia and Poland to cooperate on military aviation

Speaking today in Warsaw after signing the Agreement on Cooperation in Military Aviation with Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Identifying new opportunities and possibilities for the cooperation between Slovakia and the Republic of Poland as well as efforts to find joint solutions to challenges in the politico-military sphere can contribute to a more efficient delivery of common goals by both countries, be that part of the EU and NATO or at the regional and bilateral levels.” During his first official visit to Poland, the Minister also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Jacek Czaputowicz and Chairman of the Parliamentary National Defence Committee Michal Jach MP.

On the Agreement, the head of the SVK MOD said: “By signing the Agreement on Cooperation in Military Aviation, we have stimulated the development of cross-border cooperation in airspace protection between our countries. Poland has, since long, operated F-16 fighter jets and its experience from fielding the aircraft will be beneficial for Slovakia.” The Minister noted that the aim of the Agreement is to create conditions for furthering cooperation on training, exercises and airspace protection under the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS). He went on to underline the significance of the project thanks to which the engagement in this area has been extended by yet another Visegrad Group country.

During his meeting with the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The changing security environment and the emergence of new challenges call for an adequate and prompt response. This is a task that lies not only ahead of our country. We have witnessed that over the past months. That is why creating opportunities for strengthening such cooperation is a vital precondition for managing them through to a successful resolution." He added: “The Euro-Atlantic orientation of our countries, regional closeness and common V4 visions predestine us for closer and more effective cooperation.” In this context, he praised the recent revision of the Polish National Security Strategy.

The Polish V4 Presidency, too, was on the agenda of the meetings between Minister Naď and his Polish partners. “I believe the Polish V4 Presidency will follow the set trend of strengthening the Visegrad Group's regional significance, because it is our “unified voice” that creates opportunities for pursuing our defence and security priorities and goals which bind our countries together,” said Defence Minister Naď and appreciated that EU-NATO cooperation and efforts to resolve the epidemiological crisis and cyber security issues are the priorities of the Polish V4 Presidency.

On the national defence industries, the heads of the MODs discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between SVK and POL defence manufacturers. “Promoting the SVK defence companies is an area of our priority and we have paid due attention to it. Overlapping interests in modernisation programmes create a space for Slovakia to promote and offer the high quality products of these companies to foreign partners,” said Defence Minister J. Naď. On this occasion, the Minister informed Polish National Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak about the SVK MOD's planned activities at the International Defence Exhibition Bratislava (IDEB) 2020, to be held at the end of this October in Bratislava.

In his meetings with the Polish colleagues, Minister J. Naď presented the SVK MOD's priorities and goals for his office term and provided an update on the planned revision of Slovakia's strategic documents – the SVK Security Strategy and the SVK Defence Strategy. Also discussed was the delivery by both countries of previously agreed EU and NATO commitments.