At the invitation of General Phan Van Giang - Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, Mr. Robert Kalinak - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Slovakia paid an official visit to Vietnam from November 18-20, 2025.
On the morning of November 18, at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense (Hanoi), General Phan Van Giang presided over the official welcoming ceremony for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Slovakia Robert Kalinak and members of the delegation. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two sides held talks.
At the meeting, the two sides discussed the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern. In recent times, bilateral defense cooperation has been implemented by the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the Ministry of National Defense of Slovakia in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015, achieving positive results.
General Phan Van Giang stated that Vietnam is steadfast in its "four no's" defense policy (not participating in military alliances; not allying with one country to fight another; not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use Vietnamese territory to fight against another country; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations); at the same time, it wishes to expand bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation, on the basis of equality, mutual respect for common interests, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
In the coming time, the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense suggested that the two sides continue to promote defense cooperation commensurate with the good and increasingly close development of bilateral relations, focusing on a number of areas.
Expressing his opinion on the two sides increasing delegation exchanges, establishing cooperation mechanisms to enhance mutual understanding and discuss measures to promote cooperation, General Phan Van Giang hoped that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Slovakia would pay attention and soon send the Slovakian Defense Abate to Vietnam, as a bridge to help effectively implement the cooperation contents agreed by both sides.
The Minister of National Defense also suggested that the two sides promote cooperation in training, in which the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense hopes that the Slovakian Ministry of National Defense will study receiving Vietnamese soldiers to participate in Slovakian language training courses and specialties in which Slovakia has strengths. At the same time, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is ready to accept Slovakian soldiers to learn Vietnamese and participate in the International Defense Official course. The two sides promote cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping.
On this occasion, General Phan Van Giang respectfully invited Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Slovakia Robert Kalinak, together with leaders of defense industry cooperation agencies and leading defense industry enterprises of Slovakia to attend the 3rd Vietnam International Defense Exhibition, scheduled to be held at the end of 2026.
At the talks, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Slovakia Robert Kalinak emphasized the significance of the long-standing traditional relationship between Vietnam and Slovakia, as the two countries have stood side by side in the years of war and development.
Expressing his delight at the results of defense cooperation between the two countries in recent times, Mr. Robert Kalinak agreed to send a Slovakian Defense Attache to Vietnam; suggested that in the coming time, the two sides strengthen cooperation in areas such as: defense industry, delegation exchanges at all levels, and cyber security.
