President Pellegrini's Foreign Agenda to Focus on Europe and Security

Bratislava, 3 February (TASR) – The foreign policy agenda of President Peter Pellegrini will this year focus on Europe and the Central European region, security, and modern diplomacy and technologies. Pellegrini announced this in his address while receiving heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Slovakia. According to the head of state, Europe is the primary line of his foreign policy agenda. Stability in south-eastern Europe is, in his view, a matter of European security interest. "It is also a Slovak interest. A stronger Europe needs a more stable neighbourhood and it needs results, not declarations," Pellegrini noted. This year, he wants to follow up his visits to Western Balkan countries with practical steps such as building closer connections, bolstering trade, expanding people-to-people contacts and offering a credible European perspective for those who choose reform and cooperation. The president said that Central Europe also matters. He does not see regional formats as a luxury, as they help coordination, prevent misunderstandings and enable faster action in crises. He considers Visegrad cooperation important. "Slovakia will use its upcoming V4 (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) presidency to host partners here and focus on what we have in common – security, infrastructure, competitiveness and resilience," Pellegrini said. He identified security as the second line of foreign policy, based on unity in NATO and the European Union. "Slovakia remains a reliable ally and partner. Credibility is built before a crisis; we must invest, train and modernise," the president said. He added that the European defence industry must be stronger and cohesion among allies must be protected, especially when pressure increases. According to Pellegrini, security should not only be military but also part of everyday life for people. "It also means resilience, energy security, supply chains, critical infrastructure and social cohesion,” he said, adding that the digital space must also be safer. The final line is modern diplomacy and technologies, especially artificial intelligence. According to the head of state, Slovakia does not want to be merely a user of new technologies. It wants to help shape the credibility of artificial intelligence, improve it for public services, support productivity and protect citizens from manipulation. "Artificial intelligence must not end up in the hands of a few chosen ones who will decide how it is used," Pellegrini stressed. mf