Opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and develop partnership in the fields of nuclear energy and energy security were the main topics of discussions on June 8, 2026, between Marek Eštok, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, and Karen Mollica, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Slovakia. The meeting followed up on political consultations held by the State Secretary in Ottawa in April of this year.
“Canada is an important transatlantic partner for Slovakia. Our goal is to ensure that our strong political relations are reflected more significantly in concrete economic projects, investments, and cooperation in strategic areas such as energy, defence, and innovation,” said State Secretary Marek Eštok.
The partners agreed on the need to strengthen the economic dimension of bilateral relations and create new opportunities for Slovak and Canadian companies. One of the topics discussed was the preparation of a Canadian business mission to Slovakia, which could focus particularly on energy, the nuclear sector, renewable energy sources, the automotive industry, and defence manufacturing.
Both countries consider the launch of the Canada–Slovakia Chamber of Commerce, planned to coincide with Canada Day celebrations, to be an important milestone in bilateral relations. The new platform is intended to support investment development, business contacts, and cooperation between Slovak and Canadian companies.
“The establishment of the Canada–Slovakia Chamber of Commerce represents an important step toward even closer connections between our business communities. I believe it will provide a stable platform for new investments, business opportunities, and long-term partnerships between Slovak and Canadian companies,” Eštok emphasized.
The partners paid special attention to civilian nuclear energy, which both Slovakia and Canada regard as one of the pillars of a future strategic partnership. Discussions focused on opportunities for cooperation in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), research, expert exchanges, and cooperation between professional institutions. Further bilateral discussions are also expected during the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
The meeting also addressed defence cooperation. Eštok praised the joint deployment of Slovak and Canadian armed forces in Latvia as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank and invited Canada to participate in the activities of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Indirect Fires, based in Slovakia.
Regarding energy security, the Canadian ambassador informed her counterpart about recent initiatives concerning the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe, which Slovakia welcomed as a contribution to the diversification of energy sources.
The State Secretary also reiterated Slovakia’s interest in further intensifying political dialogue, including high-level visits, parliamentary cooperation, and support for the mobility of scientists, researchers, and students.
At the conclusion of the meeting, he congratulated Canada on the appointment of its new Governor General, Louise Arbour, and expressed confidence that her mandate would contribute to the further development of the traditionally friendly relations between Slovakia and Canada.
Source: TASR
