Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Slovakia paid an official visit to Vietnam

At the invitation of General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, Mr. Robert Kalinak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Slovakia, will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 18-20, 2025.

On the morning of November 18th, at the Ministry of National Defence Headquarters ( Hanoi ), General Phan Van Giang presided over the official welcoming ceremony for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Slovakia, Robert Kalinak, and members of his delegation.

Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two sides held talks. According to General Phan Van Giang, the official visit to Vietnam by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Slovakia is of special significance in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1950-2025), creating new momentum for bilateral defense cooperation, contributing to the active and effective implementation of defense cooperation commitments agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation signed in 2015 during the official visit to Vietnam by the Minister of Defence of Slovakia, Martin Glvac.

The Vietnamese Minister of National Defence expressed confidence that the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Slovakia would contribute to deepening bilateral defence cooperation, making it more substantive, effective, and commensurate with the potential of both sides, for the benefit of both countries, and for the peace, stability, and common development of the region and the world.

Affirming that the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam always attach importance to consolidating and developing traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Slovakia, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that the Vietnamese people always cherish and are grateful for Slovakia's assistance during the struggle for national independence and reunification in the past, and in the current process of national development and international integration. Despite the geographical distance, the two countries have much room and potential for cooperation in all fields, including defense.

The scene at the talks. (Photo: Trong Duc/VNA)

During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on the global and regional situation and issues of mutual interest. Over the past period, bilateral defense cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense and the Slovak Ministry of Defense has been implemented in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015, achieving positive results.

General Phan Van Giang stated that Vietnam is steadfast in its "four no's" defense policy (no participation in military alliances; no alignment with one country against another; no allowing foreign countries to establish military bases or use Vietnamese territory to fight against other countries; and no use of force or threat of force in international relations). He also expressed a desire to expand bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect for common interests, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Looking ahead, the Vietnamese Minister of National Defence proposed that both sides continue to promote defence cooperation commensurate with the positive and increasingly close development of bilateral relations, focusing on several areas. Specifically, both sides should strengthen exchanges of delegations, establish cooperation mechanisms to enhance mutual understanding, and exchange measures to promote cooperation. General Phan Van Giang expressed his hope that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Slovakia would pay attention and soon appoint a Slovak Defence Attaché to Vietnam to act as a bridge to help effectively implement the cooperation contents agreed upon by both sides.

In addition, both sides promoted cooperation in training, with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence hoping that the Slovak Ministry of Defence would consider accepting Vietnamese military personnel to participate in training courses in the Slovak language and other specialized fields in which Slovakia has strengths. At the same time, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is ready to accept Slovak military personnel to study Vietnamese and participate in the International Defence Officials Training Program.

Furthermore, both sides will promote cooperation on UN peacekeeping through delegation exchanges, experience sharing, and participation in relevant training courses organized by each side; strengthen cooperation in the defense industry; research and explore possibilities for cooperation in other potential areas such as cybersecurity, demining, post-war remediation, and responding to non-traditional challenges; and support each other within the framework of cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union.

On this occasion, General Phan Van Giang respectfully invited the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Slovakia, Robert Kalinak, along with leaders of the agency responsible for defense industry cooperation and leading defense industry enterprises of Slovakia, to attend the 3rd Vietnam International Defence Exhibition, scheduled to be held at the end of 2026.

During the talks, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak emphasized the significance of the long-standing traditional relationship between Vietnam and Slovakia, as the two countries have stood side by side during years of struggle and development.

Expressing his pleasure at the results of defense cooperation between the two countries in the past period, Mr. Robert Kalinak agreed to appoint a Slovak Defense Attaché to Vietnam; and suggested that in the future, the two sides strengthen cooperation in areas such as: defense industry, exchange of delegations at all levels, cybersecurity, etc.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/pho-thu-tuong-bo-truong-bo-quoc-phong-slovakia-tham-chinh-thuc-viet-nam-post1077642.vnp