Marek Eštok discussed strengthening Slovak-American relations, energy and defense. The partners plan to deepen strategic cooperation and support projects in the field of nuclear energy.
On Wednesday, December 17, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic (MZVEZ SR) Marek Eštok held a working meeting with Daniel Lawton, the Deputy Deputy Secretary of State for Western, Central and Southern Europe of the United States. The partners appreciated the dynamics of mutual relations and agreed on their further deepening, especially in the field of energy, defense, economy and security. TASR was informed about this by the communication department of the MZVEZ.
In short:
- Marek Eštok negotiated with the Deputy Deputy Minister of the USA
- They discussed deepening relations in defense, economy and security
- They announced cooperation on strategic projects in nuclear energy
“The United States is an important global player and an important partner of Slovakia. It is therefore crucial that our relations deepen, especially in the fields of energy, defense, economy and security,” said Eštok. In this context, he highlighted the importance of flagship Slovak-American projects, including the signing of an intergovernmental agreement between the USA and the Slovak Republic on the construction of a nuclear power plant by the American company Westinghouse.
An invitation from Trump
He also underlined the importance of negotiations at the highest political level, while reflecting on the recent invitation to the visit of US President Donald Trump addressed to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
“At the same time, I expressed an interest in organizing a Strategic Dialogue between the Slovak Republic and the USA in 2026, which would lay the foundations for practical cooperation for the next period,” Eštok added, and at the same time interpreted the invitation for the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, for an official visit to Slovakia. He also recalled the invitation of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanár, to a meeting with the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio.
Aid to Ukraine
In the discussion, the partners also addressed the current situation in Ukraine and the positions of the Slovak Republic, while Eštok confirmed the continued support of Ukraine in the humanitarian, non-military and energy fields and praised the diplomatic efforts of the United States aimed at ending the conflict.
An important topic of the negotiations was cooperation in the field of energy security, including the diversification of energy supply sources and routes, as well as the continuation of strategic projects in nuclear energy. The partners also touched upon defense cooperation, the modernization of the armed forces and the strengthening of defense capabilities within the framework of the North Atlantic Alliance.
