State Secretary Marian Majer: USA is Slovakia's key partner on defence

The United States of America is a key partner of the Slovak Republic on defence, as referenced in the SVK Government Manifesto. This as well as other issues of bilateral cooperation on security and defence were discussed in a phone conversation between State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence Marian Majer and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy Michael C. Ryan today (28 April 2020).

Both partners appreciated the intensity of U.S.-SVK bilateral cooperation, while acknowledging the SVK Armed Forces' special ties with the Indiana National Guard. In their discussion, they also addressed modernising the Armed Forces. “Values, not only strategic interests, bind us to the United States. Our defence cooperation is, therefore, truly natural. Looking to the future, I believe we will be able to intensify it even more," said Marian Majer.

In his conversation with his U.S. colleague, Marian Majer stressed that "our focus is on improving Slovakia's capabilities and delivering international commitments." Furthermore, he confirmed that the new MOD leadership wants to achieve stability and predictability of defence spending with the ambition to meet both the expenditure targets of 2% of GDP on defence and a minimum of 20% on Armed Forces modernisation by 2024.

Marian Majer updated Michael C. Ryan on current security and defence developments in Slovakia. He also presented the priorities of the SVK Government Manifesto, which are still in the process of approval, and the actions the SVK MOD and Armed Forces have taken in the fight against COVID-19. On the priorities of the acting MOD leadership, he noted improved communications with the public as well as an active approach to engaging with members of the NGO sector, academia and the media.