Defence Minister Naď in Brussels for discussions on European security and defence cooperation

In a series of meetings at the EU Defence Ministerial in Brussels today (17 May 2022), Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď addressed the most topical issues in defence and security, as EU defence ministers came together for discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) and at the European Defence Agency (EDA)'s Ministerial Steering Board.

Central themes of the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) meeting included the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU's Strategic Compass in the context of driving efficiency across the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, and the security situation in the Sahel region.

At that meeting, Defence Minister Naď confirmed that in response to the actions of the Russian paramilitary groups in Mali, Slovakia supports a temporary suspension of the EU operational missions in Mali. “Despite the exceptionally complicated security situation in this African country, where three members of the Slovak Armed Forces have been serving with the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), Slovakia remains committed to supporting Mali in its fight against local terrorist threats. We must find a way to keep our presence in this region, stay united and continue to build on our cooperation,” Minister Naď said.

The meeting was also attended virtually online by Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who updated his counterparts on the current situation on the ground and the requirements of the country's armed forces. In debating the Ukraine conflict, EU defence ministers agreed on the need for continued military assistance to Ukraine.

Looking to the future of Ukraine, the head of the SVK MOD remarked: “Any peace agreement must reflect the main demands of the Ukrainian side so as to ensure its security and stability.” Referencing the extent of damage to Ukrainian infrastructure with no parallel in post-1945 Europe, he stressed that Ukraine will need extensive EU funding to rebuild its country. He went on to say, “We must also think about how we approach our relationship with Russia after the war, taking into consideration that the mentality of the regime there may not change.”

At the EDA's Ministerial Steering Board meeting, chaired by HR/VP Josep Borrell, the Slovak side, led by Defence Minister Naď, supported the initiative to establish a Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI) within EDA. In addition, EU defence ministers paid special attention to the “Scoping EU defence investment gaps” analysis. “In view of EDAʼs assessment, we support increasing investment in defence capabilities,” Minister Naď announced.

Faced with the risk of price increases and late deliveries in the supply chain, the main challenge will be to support defence industry stakeholders so that they can accelerate their manufacturing capacity in response to increased demand for military equipment and technology, Minister Naď concluded.