U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO MAKE FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO SLOVAKIA SINCE ITS ENTRY INTO NATO

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has accepted an invitation from Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď to attend a bilateral meeting in Slovakia next week.

On the main themes of the bilateral agenda, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Secretary Austin and I will discuss ways to enhance defence cooperation and strengthen NATO's Eastern Flank, including the stand-up of the NATO eFP Battlegroup in Slovakia and we will also speak about other forms of assistance that could be provided to Ukraine.”

Slovakia is the only country to host Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III for a bilateral meeting as part of his trip to Europe where he will attend the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels, Minister Naď said emphatically.

The MOD will provide further information as this becomes available in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense.