Defence Minister meets British Ambassador to discuss defence

Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš (SNS) met British Ambassador to Slovakia Andrew Garth on Wednesday in order to discuss bilateral co-operation in the areas of security and defence as well as the UK's planned contribution to the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Slovakia. "Co-operation between our countries has been on an excellent level for many years. But there is always scope for boosting it even more, either in the field of education, training or exchange of experience. Thanks to this, we will be ready to respond to current security challenges even better and more effectively," said Gajdoš, who enumerated several examples of successful co-operation between Slovakia and the UK, including regular military and counselling courses for the Slovak Army provided by the United Kingdom. The Slovak defence minister also informed the British ambassador about Slovakia's plans to increase the army budget as well as the progress made in the modernisation projects of air and ground forces. Gajdoš and Garth also discussed the 100th anniversary of the emergence of the common state of the Czechs and Slovaks and the fundamental historical role that the United Kingdom played in the nation-building efforts of both nations.