Bratislava, 25 March 2026 – Slovakia is interested in more dynamic and results-oriented bilateral relations with Canada, particularly in the areas of economy, energy, the defence industry, and political dialogue. This was stated by State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Marek Eštok, who on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Slovakia, Karen Elizabeth Mollica.
“We view Canada as a close partner and ally with whom we share common values and interests in international cooperation and security. At the same time, it is our second most important trading partner on the American continent,” said State Secretary M. Eštok, adding that he sees significant and not yet fully utilised potential for cooperation in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada, which creates opportunities for further development of economic and investment activities between the countries.
In the area of security, the partners recalled cooperation between Slovakia and Canada within the North Atlantic Alliance, where Slovak soldiers operate under Canadian command in the NATO multinational brigade in Latvia. In the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions, both sides also agreed on the necessity of respecting international law and a rules-based international order.
According to the State Secretary, the further development of bilateral relations should be supported by upcoming political consultations in Ottawa, aimed at fostering concrete and practical discussions on areas of common interest, as well as exchanging views and continuing coordination on foreign policy issues with a focus on current global developments.
“A significant element of our relations is also the strong Slovak diaspora in Canada, which creates natural people-to-people connections and a solid foundation for further development of mutual cooperation. That is why we are interested in regular political dialogue and concrete projects that will further enhance our relations,” concluded M. Eštok.
Source: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
