‘The Trimorz initiative is the work of president Andrzej Duda; thanks to it we began to think about developing cooperation in the vertical dimension, from the north to the south," said Slovakia's president Peter Pellegrini. president Andrzej Duda, on the another hand, stated that during the gathering with president Pellegrini they raised issues of safety and military cooperation. "We both agree that we should be self-sufficient erstwhile it comes to producing and supplying ammunition," said president Duda.
Pellegrini at a joint conference with president Duda in Štrbské lake in the Slovak Tatras, thanked the Polish president for his contribution to the improvement of relations between Poland and Slovakia.
According to Pellegrini, president Duda's crucial global action is to support the Tri-Sea Initiative.
With president Duda's initiative, the Trimortal Initiative, we realized that beyond focusing on cooperation between the West and the East, we request to think about developing vertical cooperation, from the north to the south
He said.
Increasing Defence Expenditure
President Pellegrini besides announced that he had received a letter from president Duda, in which the Polish president stressed the importance of raising defence spending.
Slovakia is ready to talk about the increase in defence resources and the pace of this growth. Of course, we cannot compare to Poland, which spends more than 4% of GDP on defence, but Slovakia has done its homework, in the form of 2% of expenditure
He noted.
The president of Slovakia stressed that both countries share a common view on the war in Ukraine and the importance of relations with the United States.
I think that on the subject of the war in Ukraine we have the agreement that a long-term solution should be sought
“He said.
He argued that the US remained a warrant of the safety of Poland and Slovakia.
Security talks
President Duda stressed at a joint press conference after the gathering that he spoke with president Pellegrini, among others, about security.
This is simply a fundamental issue at the moment, and in this context, of course, the war in Ukraine. And what interests us both is that this war should end as shortly as possible, but it will end in a safe and lasting peace not only for Ukraine, but besides for our countries and our societies.
“the president pointed out.
In short, to guarantee that this peace is sustainable and that it provides us with further possibilities for specified peaceful and free economic, economical improvement through its stability.
said Andrzej Duda.
The president pointed out that present the way to this is besides to increase defence spending. He recalled that he had submitted to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte a request to put the issue of an immediate increase in defence spending of the Alliance countries at the next Hague summit to 3% of GDP.
I believe that this 3 percent is achievable comparatively rapidly and that it is real. There is only a question of the arrangements for the script of achieving this nonsubjective and its adoption
“ president Duda pointed out.
Military cooperation with Slovakia
He said that he besides discussed military cooperation between Poland and Slovakia with president Pellegrini.
We talked about the cooperation of our defence industries. We both agree that we request more military production in Europe, that we should be self-sufficient in terms of production and supply of ammunition
said Andrzej Duda.
We besides talked about Polishization of Korean K2 tanks and their production – I hope – shortly in Poland. I am glad that Slovakia is initially curious in this product
“The president added.
The Presidents' visit to the Tatras will proceed until tomorrow. next day morning, in Old Smokovec, president Duda and president Pellegrini will visit the exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's pilgrimage to Slovakia, which is located in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The Tri-Sea Initiative brings together 13 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. The thought of this task is to stimulate the economical improvement of the countries of Central and east Europe and to make a unchangeable and coherent partnership between the Baltic Sea, the Adriatic and the Black Sea. The Trimorum as an global format was established in 2015 by the Presidents of Poland and Croatia.
