During bilateral talks in Rome on Tuesday, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD) and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani agreed on the need to further develop strategic relations between the two countries. These relations should be built on strong economic cooperation, intensive political dialogue and a common approach to current global challenges.
In connection with the current situation in the Middle East, Blanár particularly highlighted the discussion on possible security and energy consequences for Europe. According to him, he and the Italian minister "emphasized in particular the need to respect international law and prevent further escalation of tension in this region".
According to Blanár, the developments surrounding Iran, the United States and Israel have both a security and energy dimension, which can affect the stability of European. "Therefore, it is extremely important to find solutions that will prevent further escalation," said the Slovak minister, adding that the situation does not yet seem to be calming down, but rather escalating. Slovakia and Italy are therefore currently implementing the necessary repatriations of their citizens from the Middle East. According to both ministers, restrictions on strategic trade and energy routes in the region have a negative impact on an international scale. "We have therefore raised the issue of diversification of energy sources, and in this context, I also informed the Italian Minister about the situation regarding the suspension of Russian oil supplies to Slovakia via Ukraine through the allegedly damaged Druzhba pipeline, which the Ukrainian side has refused to credibly prove after more than a month," added Blanár.
In addition to political cooperation, the Slovak Minister also highlighted bilateral trade with Rome. Italy has long been among Slovakia's most important trade partners. In the first 11 months of last year, mutual trade amounted to 7.8 billion euros, with a positive balance for the Slovak Republic of 1.3 billion.
Italy has the ambition to become a leader in the field of nuclear technologies, where the Slovak Republic can be a key partner, according to Blanár. "Slovakia, along with France, is among the largest producers of nuclear energy, we have exceptionally high-quality expertise, where we can establish practical cooperation with Italy in the field of research and development of IV generation reactors or in the reuse of spent nuclear fuel," he explained.
The meeting also touched on defense, where Slovakia appreciated Italian assistance in partially protecting its airspace in 2023-2024. The discussion also focused on the European agenda, especially issues of competitiveness, energy security and the protection of strategic sectors.
Source: TASR
