Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) may take Slovakia's and NATO's security arrangements to significantly higher level
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- Date: 14.12.2021
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The Ministries of Defence and Foreign and European Affairs have prepared the draft Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the Government of the Slovak Republic and the Government of the United States of America, which may significantly enhance the security and defence of Slovakia and that of our Allies in NATO. The DCA aims to set the legal framework for a strengthened SVK-U.S. partnership and existing cooperation, which is expected to bring in a raft of benefits.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “After the unsuccess of the previous government in 2018, we have returned to the negotiating table with a view to attending to this unfinished business. For the Allies, this is an absolutely normal and standard bilateral agreement which 23 out of the 30 NATO Member States already have, including our neighbours – Poland and Hungary, and without which Slovakia would be impoverished by missing out on significant benefits.”
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok and Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko joined Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď in making statements on the draft DCA at a press conference at the Cabinet Office.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “In the long term and more closely than ever, we have cooperated on defence and security with the USA even at the level of our Armed Forces. And therefore, an agreement governing our cooperation is an entirely natural need to get the processes up and running effectively. Thanks to clear organisational and technical arrangements, we will be able to better rely on our Ally in the eventuality of an emergency.”
In addition to providing the legal framework and clear rules, the Agreement will be a prerequisite to receiving U.S. funding for the infrastructure of the Slovak Armed Forces, this means delivering savings against the SVK defence budget. In the first stage, Slovakia will be able to use US$100m in funding to modernise its defence infrastructure.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok noted that the Agreement is a practical expression of the fact that NATO and the USA are the guarantor of our security and defence. “Moreover, this Agreement leaves the decisions on whatever relates to our joint defence activities with the USA on Slovak territory in the hands of Slovak bodies,“ he said.
Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko expressed his appreciation for the DCA, saying: “From the perspective of the Armed Forces, we welcome the Agreement’s contribution to setting unequivocal rules for organising training and exercises, to coordinating military activities in response to today’s security challenges, and last but not least, to making investments in our military infrastructure. This will bring savings of funds that can be reinvested into other areas.”
Still today, the draft Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Slovak Republic and the Government of the United States of America will be released to the public as part of the interdepartmental consultation procedures. Subsequently, the draft DCA will go through the SVK Government and Parliament before being ratified by the SVK President.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “After the unsuccess of the previous government in 2018, we have returned to the negotiating table with a view to attending to this unfinished business. For the Allies, this is an absolutely normal and standard bilateral agreement which 23 out of the 30 NATO Member States already have, including our neighbours – Poland and Hungary, and without which Slovakia would be impoverished by missing out on significant benefits.”
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok and Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko joined Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď in making statements on the draft DCA at a press conference at the Cabinet Office.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “In the long term and more closely than ever, we have cooperated on defence and security with the USA even at the level of our Armed Forces. And therefore, an agreement governing our cooperation is an entirely natural need to get the processes up and running effectively. Thanks to clear organisational and technical arrangements, we will be able to better rely on our Ally in the eventuality of an emergency.”
In addition to providing the legal framework and clear rules, the Agreement will be a prerequisite to receiving U.S. funding for the infrastructure of the Slovak Armed Forces, this means delivering savings against the SVK defence budget. In the first stage, Slovakia will be able to use US$100m in funding to modernise its defence infrastructure.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok noted that the Agreement is a practical expression of the fact that NATO and the USA are the guarantor of our security and defence. “Moreover, this Agreement leaves the decisions on whatever relates to our joint defence activities with the USA on Slovak territory in the hands of Slovak bodies,“ he said.
Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko expressed his appreciation for the DCA, saying: “From the perspective of the Armed Forces, we welcome the Agreement’s contribution to setting unequivocal rules for organising training and exercises, to coordinating military activities in response to today’s security challenges, and last but not least, to making investments in our military infrastructure. This will bring savings of funds that can be reinvested into other areas.”
Still today, the draft Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Slovak Republic and the Government of the United States of America will be released to the public as part of the interdepartmental consultation procedures. Subsequently, the draft DCA will go through the SVK Government and Parliament before being ratified by the SVK President.
