Ministry of foreign affairs of Slovak Republic : Statement by MFEA SR on occasion of the inauguration of USA President Donald Trump

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, on the occasion of today's inauguration of the 45 President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, expresses the resolve to continue further developing mutual relations with the USA as well as strengthening the transatlantic partnership needed to sustain stability, security and democracy in the broader Euro-Atlantic area.

We congratulate the newly-inaugurated President and wish him much strength and success in executing his demanding office.

The United States is a strategic partner and ranks among the closest allies of the Slovak Republic. We have been successfully cooperating in numerous areas including modernization of our armed forces, supporting stability in crisis regions of the world, economic and business cooperation, and exchange study stays of Slovak citizens in the USA and American citizens in Slovakia. We consider the development of this practical cooperation as an important contribution to strengthening the transatlantic ties that have been our lasting foreign policy priority.

The fundamental pillar of mutual relations is also our common membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). We want to continue closely cooperating to maintain its credibility and capacity for action that we perceive as the key guarantee of SR's security. We believe that the upcoming NATO Summit scheduled for spring this year will reiterate the conclusions from the Wales and Warsaw Summits and contribute to strengthening the role of NATO as the guarantor of its members' security.

Transatlantic economic relations are the foundations for prosperity and employment. SR supports continuation of the negotiations to reach agreement on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and the USA (TTIP) in a spirit of mutual benefit, economic growth and improvement of standards. SR has eminent interest in developing bilateral cooperation with the USA in the areas of trade, innovation and technological development that will foster creation of new jobs.

MFEA SR is ready to engage in constructive dialogue with the incoming administration of President Trump on a bilateral basis as well as along lines of the European Union. We consider pro-active mutual communication, taking account of the interests and needs of citizens on both ends of the Atlantic, to be the best way of effectively addressing global challenges.

A strong and united EU is capable of significantly contributing to the pursuit of common transatlantic values and interests. SR, as one of its member states and simultaneously also as an ally in NATO, will remain a responsible partner in efforts for peace and security in the world.