Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď holds talks with EU ambassadors

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď has met the ambassadors of the EU Member States to Slovakia for talks centring on the EU's Strategic Compass and the current security situation in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine at the Ministry of Defence this afternoon (4 April 2022). The meeting was proposed by the Ambassador of the French Republic to Slovakia, His Excellency Mr Pascal Le Deunff, as France currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Speaking at the meeting, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Slovakia welcomes EU Member States signing off on the EU’s Strategic Compass. At a time when there is a war going on in our closest neighbourhood, this consensus is truly important.”

According to him, the adoption of the document sends out a clear signal that the EU is able and willing to beef up its security and defence. He noted that the measures outlined in the Strategic Compass, the aim of which is to provide guidance for the further development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) for the coming years, will bring better possibilities for building and enhancing the EU's defence capabilities, and hence will reinforce NATO.

The Strategic Compass encompasses the so-called Hybrid Toolbox, an initiative to create a suite of EU instruments for combating hybrid threats. “Although these instruments for addressing hybrid threats fall under the remit of EU Member States, we cannot rely only on our own capacity due to the complex nature of these threats. Therefore, our membership in NATO and the EU helps us work more efficiently on the measures to be taken in the interest of bolstering our resilience against hybrid activity,” he added.

Furthermore, Defence Minister Naď provided an update for the ambassadors on the Slovak Armed Forces' ongoing modernisation programmes and delivery of assistance to Ukraine. “Our aid is effective, purposeful and aligned with the requirements of the Ukrainian side. We stand with Ukraine and we will continue to provide it with aid,” Minister Naď concluded.