Bilateral talks in the Pentagon bring a shift in the SVK-U.S. defence and security relationship

Bilateral talks between the highest representatives of the Slovak Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense have brought a shift and confirmed our shared interest in taking the SVK-U.S. defence and security relationship forward, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď announced after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. today (28 October 2021).

Speaking after the bilateral meeting, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “I appreciate there is a consensus of interest in finalising the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which demonstrates our effort to give the strategic partnership between Slovakia and the United States of America an updated legal framework and to explore new opportunities for its advancement. This will be a comprehensive agreement which will provide the basis for regular bilateral dialogue between the Slovak Republic and the USA on foreign and security policy, defence, and on other areas of common interest.” Minister Naď noted that Slovakia unequivocally views the USA as a strategic partner.

Mr Naď reminded that the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), to be precise, the provisions on the presence of the U.S. Armed Forces in Slovakia were misused in the past. “I wish to reassure everyone that the DCA will not be a direct mandate for the presence of U.S. troops in Slovakia. In fact, this will be about realistically advantageous solutions for Slovakia on which we can always agree with the United States of America and which are fully compliant with our legislation,” he said.

During the bilateral talks, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called Slovakia a reliable ally and appreciated the Western direction of the SVK Government's actions. He conveyed thanks for SVK involvement in Afghanistan as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and for the assistance the Slovak Special Operations Forces provided during the evacuation of vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan. Similarly, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď extended his thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces for their invaluable support in evacuating 52 SVK citizens, partners and local residents from Afghanistan.

Both partners discussed cooperation on the delivery of the SVK military's modernisation programmes. The U.S. Secretary of Defense expressed his support for Slovakia's responsible approach to meeting its commitments by increased defence spending on modernisation, intention to replace its obsolete Russian military equipment with new advanced systems, and efforts to implement its NATO Capability Targets.