Deputy Defence Minister Majer: Slovakia is interested in strengthening defence engagement with Spain

The Slovak Republic is interested in strengthening its bilateral defence and security engagement with the Kingdom of Spain, Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer said during his meeting with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Slovakia, Her Excellency Ms Lorea Arribalzaga Ceballos, whom he met to discuss his planned visit to the International Defence and Security Exhibition FEINDEF 2021 in Madrid.

Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer said: “Despite as yet existing forms of cooperation with our Spanish partners, we believe there are more areas where we can combine our efforts and strengths to drive growth and development forward and I will be delighted if any of the outlined opportunities is realised.”

As part of the programme of activities to step up cooperation, Mr Majer made an offer to the Spanish Armed Forces to use the Training Centre Lešť and to attend specialist training at the CBRN Battalion Zemianske Kostoľany, Ex Slovak Shield and Ex Toxic Valley, and international courses at the M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy Liptovský Mikuláš.

Deputy Minister Marian Majer updated Ambassador Ceballos on the modernisation programmes in the SVK Armed Forces. In response to the Slovak Armoured Capability Programmes Request for Government Proposal (RfGP) to replace the SVK Army's fleets of tracked and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, he said the MOD is awaiting the submission of bids for the contracts from the contacted countries, including a proposal from Spain.