Deputy Defence Minister Majer talks about defence cooperation and the influence of Russian aggression on European security in visit to Czechia

Today (28 April 2022), Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer has made an official trip to the Czech Republic, to participate in a series of meetings at the Czech Ministry of Defence and to appear on a discussion hosted by the European Values think-tank.

Speaking after meeting Deputy Defence Minister for Defence Policy and Strategy Jan Havránek at the CZE MOD, Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer said: “Apart from our neighbourhood and common history, some of the ties that bind us to the Czech Republic are our positions on current security challenges and strong support and solidarity for Ukraine. Indeed, the Czech Republic has demonstrated just that by taking on the role of the framework nation for NATOʼs multinational battlegroup in Slovakia.“

At the same time, Mr Majer confirmed Slovakia's interest in even closer cooperation between the countries during the upcoming Slovak V4 Presidency and the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which the Czech Republic is set to take over in the second half of this year.

While at the CZE MOD, the key theme of today's meeting with Deputy Defence Minister for Industrial Cooperation Tomáš Kopečný and Director of the Agency for Intergovernmental Defence Cooperation (AMOS) Aleš Vytečka was to drive existing cooperation forward, especially in the field of defence industry – take the replacement of Army equipment, the development of artillery systems and munitions, or the procurement of jet trainer aircraft, for example.

Still today, Mr Majer appeared on a discussion, hosted by the European Values Security Centre, to talk about Slovakia's security situation in the wake of Russian aggression against Ukraine. During the discussion, Mr Majer assessed that Russia has underestimated the will of the Ukrainian people to resist and defend themselves and the unity and determination of the West. He pointed out that the Slovak and Czech governments should not underestimate strategic communications – whether on the issue of long-term support for Ukraine or on the subject of NATO member countries bolstering deterrence and defence. “It is of paramount importance to keep supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russiaʼs unprovoked aggression, while at the same time we need to make it clear by explaining consistently that we defend ourselves by defending Ukraine,“ he added.

On the second leg of the visit, Majer will travel to Odolena Voda tomorrow to speak with representatives of AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE. Being the largest aviation manufacturer in the Czech Republic, the company designs and manufactures military and civil aircraft.