Deputy Defence Minister Majer in visit to Latvia: Our soldiers side by side with our allies demonstrate a strong transatlantic bond

In his official visit to Latvia on 13-15 October 2021, Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer held a series of bilateral talks to discuss cooperation on security and defence and strategic communications and visited the SVK Contingent (SLOVCON) deployed on NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Ādaži.

Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer said: “I was very much delighted to come and show my support for our military personnel serving with the Canadian-led multinational battlegroup at Camp Ādaži. Their professional qualities make a contribution to the interoperability, collective defence and solidarity of our allies with whom we demonstrate a strong transatlantic bond.“ Mr Majer praised the achievements of the 127 SVK soldiers currently serving in the command, support and artillery roles in NATO’s eFP.

During his talks with his counterpart, Latvian Deputy Defence Minister Jānis Garisons, Mr Majer appreciated the advancement of bilateral cooperation between the countries. “Our friendship and cooperation are built on very strong foundations of cultural, historical and religious closeness, mutual solidarity and shared prospects for Europe,” he said. Another part of the discussion was in relation to expanding the areas of cooperation, to include the SVK side's offer to host LVA military personnel at SVK training and education establishments.

While in Riga, Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer also met with Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (NATO StratCom COE) Jānis Sārts. Among the topics on the agenda for discussion was Slovakia's Action Plan for Coordination of the Fight Against Hybrid Threats. Of strategic communications, Mr Majer said: “Strengthening our activities in the field of strategic communications has been my clear priority ever since the first day I took office as Deputy Defence Minister.”

He noted that the MOD's more robust investment in building public confidence and enhancing transparency is positively and clearly welcomed by our international partners. Topics of discussion included transatlantic partnership, NATO-EU cooperation, and the tasks to be projected into the NATO Strategic Concept and the EU Strategic Compass that are being shaped by both organisations.

On the above issues, Mr Majer also had a meeting with National Security Adviser to the President of Latvia and Secretary of the National Security Council Jānis Kažociņš.

The Deputy Defence Minister's official programme will continue today (15 October) with his participation in the Riga Conference 2021, where he will appear as a speaker on the panel titled “What is still holding Europe back from becoming a global actor?“