Defence Minister Naď in Brussels: NATO makes collective defence and deterrence its priority

Over the past two days (15-16 June 2022), Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď has participated in the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels, with a focus on the Alliance's collective ability to respond to current threats in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and on setting the stage for the upcoming NATO Summit in Madrid.

In his statement at the Defence Ministerial meeting, Jaroslav Naď said: “Our response to the drastic change of the security environment due to Russiaʼs imperialist expansionism must be strong, decisive and credible. Amongst Allies, this calls for a genuine expression of our will to defend ourselves mutually, leaving no room for doubts.”

The head of the SVK MOD expects from the NATO Madrid Summit that it will represent a strategic milestone in the Alliance's long-term adaptation. “Collective defence and deterrence are a priority for us. This is why these two principles must take centre stage of the new NATO Strategic Concept,” Minister Naď said, adding that today's security situation demands that the forward presence of Allied deterrence on the Alliance's eastern flank be transformed into permanent forward defence – including with an uplift in its size, readiness and defence capabilities.

In a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels on Wednesday (15 June 2022), Allied defence ministers joined other defence ministers from around the world in discussing the latest tranches and coordination of military aid for Ukraine. To that end, Minister Naď informed the leaders that Slovakia has gifted five helicopters and munitions to Ukraine and these are already in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers. The latest assistance package will be refunded to Slovakia through the European Peace Instrument (EPI).