Blanar: Preservation of Momentum of Slovak Foreign Policy Key in 2026

Bratislava, 9 January (TASR) – For Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), maintaining the current momentum of Slovakia's foreign policy at both bilateral and multilateral levels will be crucial in 2026, as defending Slovakia's national interests and supporting economic diplomacy remain a priority. Blanar, speaking in an interview with TASR, stated that the biggest challenges for foreign policy this year will again be developments in Ukraine, but also the administration of the United States of America. "The situation in Ukraine unfortunately now absolutely determines foreign policy in the European area, but at the same time there is also, of course, a new security arrangement and the new view of the American administration on its role in the world after it approved its national security strategy. The new security strategy absolutely rejects everything that previous US administrations promoted globally, and this will be a major challenge, which, in my view, will have an impact on the entire world," the minister stated. He said that it is necessary, therefore, for the European Union to respond appropriately and to use the space to build new security and trade relations. The head of Slovak diplomacy believes that the United States supports not only a sovereign approach on its own part, but also a sovereign approach by EU-member states. "This is a completely new paradigm, and we need to find our place in it and be able to promote our interests," added Blanar. Blanar said that Slovakia plans to organise a meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans grouping in the first half of this year, while it will continue its presidency of the Slavkov format (S3) and will take over leadership of the Visegrad Group (V4) in the second half of the year. The ministry is also preparing innovations in the consular field, the simplification of visa obligations and further digitisation. mf/df