Bratislava: Slovakia is positioning itself as a strategic gateway to Europe for Azerbaijani companies, according to Martin Klus, former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia. Klus, who is also the founder and chief analyst of SCIO, shared his insights with AZERTAC following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s historical visit to Slovakia.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Aliyev’s visit marked the first high-level diplomatic engagement between Azerbaijan and Slovakia. During the visit, he engaged in extensive discussions with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation in energy security, economic development, defense, technology, and cultural initiatives. The meetings culminated in joint statements and an agreement to maintain ongoing high-level dialogue through future reciprocal visits.
Klus emphasized the significance of this visit, noting the strengthened mutual contacts and cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the energy sector. He highlighted Slovakia’s potential to act as a bridge for expanding EU-Azerbaijan relations, with new sectors of cooperation such as defense, culture, and business partnerships being explored during the visit.
In light of the growing discussions around defense cooperation, Klus pointed out Slovakia’s interest in leveraging Azerbaijani military expertise and collaborating on special production projects. He noted that Slovakia could serve as an effective entry point for Azerbaijani companies into Europe.
The visit also opened doors for Slovak participation in projects in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, notably the Smart Cities initiative. Klus mentioned Slovak companies, including EUCOS SK, are already involved in these projects, with plans to expand into industrial, nuclear, and hydropower sectors.
Klus recommended that both countries pursue joint initiatives in education, research, and green energy to build sustainable and long-term relations. He proposed a roadmap emphasizing government-backed investment and marketing support for educational and research collaborations, alongside regular business missions to foster economic partnerships.