Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, 14 December 2023.
Mr Stoltenberg praised Slovakia’s commitment to the Alliance, including hosting a multinational NATO battlegroup, deploying forces to Latvia, and planning to invest 2% of GDP in defence this year. They also discussed continued support to Ukraine and further bolstering the Alliance’s deterrence and defence.
The Secretary General welcomed Slovakia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasising that “there are no signs that Putin is preparing for peace. Instead the Kremlin is preparing for a long and grinding war”. Mr Stoltenberg thanked Prime Minister Fico for confirming that Slovakia would continue to provide humanitarian aid and contribute to NATO’s comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine. He also welcomed continued defence industry cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine and that the crucial repair hub in Slovakia will remain operational. “Stopping military assistance to Kyiv would prolong the war, not end it,” said the Secretary General. He stressed that “if Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not end there.”
On NATO’s deterrence and defence, the Secretary General said that a long-planned US missile defence base in Poland will become operational on Friday. “This is an important step for transatlantic security” and it will “boost Allies’ ability to defend against the threat of ballistic missiles, particularly from the Middle East,” said Mr Stoltenberg.
🗣 | NATO Secretary General:
Prime Minister Fico,
Dear Robert,
Welcome to NATO Headquarters. It’s great to see you again. And congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister. It's great to work together with you again. We actually met for the first time when you and I were both Prime Ministers in our two countries back in 2006. And since then, we have worked together in different capacities, and it's great to then be able to work together with you again.
Slovakia is a strong Ally. You host one of our multinational NATO battlegroups. You have deployed forces to Latvia. And you will invest 2% of GDP in defence this year. This shows Slovakia’s clear commitment to NATO. And NATO is deeply committed to Slovakia’s security.
Today, in our meeting, we discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine and the situation on the battlefield. There are no signs that Putin is preparing for peace. Instead, the Kremlin is preparing for a long and grinding war. Putin has put the Russian economy on a war footing. He is ramping up weapons production. And he is becoming more reliant on China, Iran and North Korea for weapons.
NATO is not party to the conflict. But we are supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defence. Enshrined in the UN Charter. I welcome Slovakia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Prime Minister, I am pleased that you have confirmed that your important humanitarian aid will continue. And that you will keep contributing to NATO’s comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine.
I also welcome that defence industry cooperation on a commercial basis between Slovakia and Ukraine will continue. And that the crucial repair hub in Slovakia will remain operational. Stopping military assistance to Kyiv would prolong the war, not end it.
I welcome President Biden’s clear commitment to Ukraine and his administration’s urgent effort to provide Ukraine with much needed aid. European Union leaders will today also discuss launching membership negotiations with Kyiv and additional economic support for Ukraine. If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not end there. Our support is not charity. It is an investment in our security.
In our meeting today, we also discussed further bolstering our own deterrence and defence. Tomorrow, a long-planned US missile defence base in Poland will become operational. It will boost Allies’ ability to defend against the threats of ballistic missiles, particularly from the Middle East. We look forward to integrating the facility into NATO’s ballistic missile defence shield in the near future. This is an important step for transatlantic security.
So once again, Prime Minister, welcome. Dear Robert, it’s great to have you here at NATO Headquarters.
Please, you have the floor.
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