Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister Eduard Heger of Slovakia to NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (27 April 2021). Mr Stoltenberg praised Slovakia's contributions to the Alliance, including support to training missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Slovakia's participation in NATO's multinational battlegroup in Latvia.
He also expressed appreciation for Slovakia's provision of medical supplies to Allies during the pandemic, calling this an important demonstration of solidarity. The Secretary General also welcomed Slovakia's work to promote stability in the Western Balkans, and its efforts to increase defense spending and invest in key capabilities.
Mr Stoltenberg said that "Allies are deeply concerned by Russia's destabilising actions across the Euro-Atlantic area, including on NATO territory," and that "we stand in full solidarity with the Czech Republic following the fatal explosion at an ammunition storage depot." The Secretary General said this was part of a pattern of aggressive actions by Russia, which "continues to violate Ukraine's sovereignty, and attempts to restrict access to parts of the Black Sea and Kerch Strait." The Secretary General also reiterated Allies' call for the "immediate and unconditional release of Alexei Navalny, as well as those arrested for peacefully expressing their views."
Looking to the NATO summit in June, the Secretary General welcomed Slovakia's support for an ambitious agenda to modernize the Alliance for the future.
