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Defence Minister Martin Sklenár at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.: SVK-U.S. defence cooperation continues with generational replacement of Slovak Armed Forces equipment

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

07.09.2023

As part of his official visit to the United States of America, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár held a bilateral meeting with Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., today (Thursday 7 September 2023). The main themes of the bilateral agenda were SVK-U.S. defence cooperation, assistance to Ukraine defending itself against Russia's aggression, and the strengthening of the Alliance's Eastern Flank.

During the meeting with Under Secretary Baker, Defence Minister Sklenár highlighted the high level of SVK-U.S. bilateral engagement in the field of defence. According to him, this is especially true for the modernisation of the Slovak Armed Forces, where the USA is Slovakia's key partner on capability and equipment programmes. This is evidenced by Slovakia's ongoing procurement of F-16s, recent acquisition of UH-60M Black Hawks, and other armaments programmes financed from U.S. funds.

Speaking about the SVK-U.S. strategic partnership, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: "True allies care about making their close partners feel safe. Indeed, we have perceived this interest from the U.S. side in the long run, and we can also see its real steps in the form of support for the modernisation of the Slovak Armed Forces and our defence industry. However, this is not just about acquisition projects, but also about the fact that U.S. Armed Forces service members have served with NATO troops in Slovakia in response to Russiaʼs occupation of Ukraine - all this contributes to our already strong historical alliance and commitment to collective defence."

U.S.-led military training and education of Slovak Armed Forces service personnel is a significant element of SVK-U.S. bilateral defence cooperation, Minister Sklenár noted.

On Ukraine, the U.S. side praised Slovakia for both its political and practical assistance to its eastern neighbour. According to Minister Sklenár, Slovakia remains committed to sustaining its long-term, tailored support for Ukraine. Slovakia and Ukraine are currently working to identify a new area of cooperation on demining unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Meanwhile, Slovak defence firms are scaling up their production capacity of 155mm artillery ammunition, which is so urgently needed by Ukraine.

A day earlier, on Wednesday 6 September 2023, the Defence Minister paid a visit to Lockheed Martin's facility in Greenville, South Carolina, where the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet, carrying the SVK national emblem and the Slovak Air Force eagle emblem, was officially unveiled. While in Greenville, Minister Sklenár was also briefed on the progress made in producing the other 13 F-16 jets.