WEBVTT 00:09.640 --> 00:13.120 Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen , 00:13.120 --> 00:17.080 thank you for coming at this special 00:17.090 --> 00:20.040 occasion because this is the 20 year 00:20.050 --> 00:22.740 since uh since the last visit of the 00:22.750 --> 00:25.250 Secretary of Defense . So what it 00:25.250 --> 00:28.330 actually means for for Slovakia that 00:28.340 --> 00:31.040 will be discussed by the Minister noted 00:31.040 --> 00:34.280 that the Slovak Minister of Defense and 00:34.280 --> 00:36.058 of course we will also hear the 00:36.058 --> 00:38.430 comments from A Lloyd Austin , the U . 00:38.430 --> 00:40.597 S . Secretary of Defense . So I passed 00:40.597 --> 00:43.050 the floor to Slovak Secretary . 00:55.540 --> 00:56.050 Okay , 00:58.840 --> 01:00.980 ladies and gentlemen , 01:03.540 --> 01:05.930 uh ladies and gentlemen welcome , I 01:05.930 --> 01:08.110 would also like to welcome the 01:08.120 --> 01:10.180 international journalist welcome to 01:10.180 --> 01:12.720 bratislava as it was mentioned already , 01:12.730 --> 01:16.310 uh that that the visit of uh of the 01:16.310 --> 01:19.770 Secretary of Defense , Mr Lloyd Austin 01:19.780 --> 01:23.630 is the first visit of the U . S . 01:23.640 --> 01:27.260 Secretary of Defense in the last 20 01:27.270 --> 01:30.570 years before it was a Minister or 01:30.570 --> 01:32.348 Secretary Rumsfeld that visited 01:32.348 --> 01:35.870 Slovakia . I'm very happy that that the 01:35.870 --> 01:39.720 Secretary Austin accepted my invitation 01:39.720 --> 01:42.030 that I handed over to him back in 01:42.030 --> 01:45.610 october in pentagon and he came 01:45.620 --> 01:47.509 so that we have an opportunity to 01:47.509 --> 01:49.550 discuss really a whole range of 01:49.550 --> 01:52.320 important issues that are related to 01:52.330 --> 01:55.110 the defense of Slovakia , the defense 01:55.120 --> 01:57.400 of the eastern flank of the alliance 01:57.410 --> 02:00.850 and also the situation in the Ukraine . 02:01.840 --> 02:05.260 Yes , we discussed uh 02:05.740 --> 02:08.170 quite significantly how we're going to 02:08.170 --> 02:12.030 seek ways and how we're going to 02:12.030 --> 02:14.840 implement the necessary measures and 02:14.840 --> 02:17.930 the stamps in helping our friends in 02:17.930 --> 02:21.780 Ukraine . We are taking steps we 02:21.790 --> 02:25.240 as the Slovak Republic and we are also 02:25.240 --> 02:27.760 taking steps that that we coordinate 02:27.770 --> 02:30.720 within the North atlantic alliance . 02:30.730 --> 02:32.760 And we also take steps that we 02:32.760 --> 02:35.350 coordinate bilaterally with with the U . 02:35.350 --> 02:38.660 S . In order to to reinforce or to 02:38.660 --> 02:40.660 strengthen the defense of Ukraine . 02:40.660 --> 02:43.560 Ukraine deserves that . And 02:44.440 --> 02:46.770 through their through their steps they 02:46.770 --> 02:50.250 showed that they very heroically defend 02:50.250 --> 02:52.640 their own country and they need our 02:52.640 --> 02:56.530 help and we will provide such help . We 02:56.530 --> 03:00.360 have discussed also about the 03:00.390 --> 03:03.210 will discuss the commitment of the 03:03.220 --> 03:06.960 membership countries of NATO . We 03:06.960 --> 03:10.550 talked about the fact that 2% of 03:10.560 --> 03:14.530 uh of GDP as the cost 03:14.540 --> 03:18.250 of of defense is not a level that 03:18.260 --> 03:20.580 should be our objectives or rather it 03:20.580 --> 03:23.970 should be just a base . And I can 03:23.970 --> 03:27.530 confirm that a number of allies already 03:27.530 --> 03:30.040 declared at the ministerial meeting 03:30.040 --> 03:33.560 that they envisaged to achieve as much 03:33.560 --> 03:37.470 as 3% . For example Poland and the 03:37.480 --> 03:39.424 countries such as Baltic states or 03:39.424 --> 03:42.300 Baltic countries . 2.5% . I'm very 03:42.300 --> 03:45.170 thankful to the secretary that he 03:45.180 --> 03:47.950 confirmed the contribution of 03:48.240 --> 03:52.040 of the U . S . Uh to the 03:52.040 --> 03:55.370 alliance of alliance battle groups or 03:55.370 --> 03:58.250 alliance forces here in Slovakia . That 03:58.250 --> 04:01.160 will be created in the upcoming days . 04:01.170 --> 04:04.790 The capabilities that they will provide 04:04.800 --> 04:06.911 is something that we are lacking here 04:06.911 --> 04:08.967 in Slovakia and they will strengthen 04:08.967 --> 04:11.189 our defense and they will strengthen it 04:11.189 --> 04:15.160 in a significant way . As I said uh the 04:15.170 --> 04:18.920 the enhanced forward presence troops . 04:18.930 --> 04:21.690 This is a significant contribution to 04:21.700 --> 04:25.080 improving the defense of Slovakia . And 04:25.080 --> 04:27.370 yes we talked also about the 04:27.370 --> 04:29.490 modernization of the Slovak armed 04:29.490 --> 04:33.290 forces were discussed the need 04:33.300 --> 04:36.980 to to fulfill our obligations and to 04:36.990 --> 04:39.750 achieve capabilities that means to 04:39.840 --> 04:43.420 build the mechanized brigade uh and 04:43.420 --> 04:45.620 other capabilities . We also talked 04:45.620 --> 04:48.660 about the fact that we have some some 04:48.660 --> 04:52.450 heritage here um in the form of 04:52.460 --> 04:56.240 old Russian or soviet defense 04:56.240 --> 04:59.950 systems such as S three missile system 04:59.950 --> 05:03.450 or MiG 29 fighter jets . We were 05:03.450 --> 05:06.360 discussing various options of how to 05:06.360 --> 05:08.850 fill in this gap if we decided 05:09.940 --> 05:13.860 Not to use a MiG 29 anymore . 05:14.740 --> 05:18.550 Mhm We should receive 16 05:18.560 --> 05:22.050 sometimes in 2024 . 05:22.440 --> 05:24.920 Secretary , thank you very much for 05:24.920 --> 05:27.031 very fruitful discussion and also for 05:27.031 --> 05:29.690 your visit , which is a clear signal of 05:29.690 --> 05:33.030 our friendship , our um our 05:33.030 --> 05:36.280 alliance and also extending 05:36.280 --> 05:38.224 relationships so that we have been 05:38.224 --> 05:40.350 building especially recently . Okay , 05:40.360 --> 05:43.040 thank you for your Secretary of Defense . 05:43.040 --> 05:46.780 Now the floor is yours . Well . Good 05:46.780 --> 05:49.830 afternoon Minister Nagy thank you for 05:49.830 --> 05:53.310 hosting me today . I'm honored to be in 05:53.310 --> 05:56.120 Slovakia at this critical moment for 05:56.130 --> 05:59.030 european security and I wanted to be 05:59.030 --> 06:01.560 here in person as a sign of our unity 06:02.400 --> 06:04.780 and other strength of America's 06:04.780 --> 06:08.480 relationship with Slovakia , both 06:08.480 --> 06:11.860 bilaterally and as fellow NATO allies 06:13.540 --> 06:16.800 on this visit , I'm also grateful for 06:16.800 --> 06:20.270 the opportunity to discuss our shared 06:20.270 --> 06:22.960 security interests with President 06:23.340 --> 06:26.550 Ciputra and Prime Minister Hager . 06:28.140 --> 06:30.960 Now as NATO allies , we stand united in 06:30.960 --> 06:32.960 support of Ukraine and its right to 06:32.960 --> 06:35.550 defend it's sovereign territory . 06:36.940 --> 06:38.996 We're committed to helping the brave 06:38.996 --> 06:40.829 Ukrainian people as they protect 06:40.829 --> 06:42.718 themselves and their freedom from 06:42.718 --> 06:46.460 Russia's unjust an unprovoked invasion . 06:47.640 --> 06:50.070 And we're working urgently with our 06:50.070 --> 06:52.237 partners in the Ukrainian armed forces 06:52.237 --> 06:54.040 to further strengthen their 06:54.040 --> 06:57.560 capabilities to defend themselves . As 06:57.560 --> 06:59.940 we discussed yesterday in brussels at 06:59.940 --> 07:03.380 this week's NATO summit , we take our 07:03.380 --> 07:07.230 obligations to NATO and to our allies 07:07.230 --> 07:10.020 very seriously . And our commitment to 07:10.020 --> 07:13.660 Article five is Ironclad . We've sent 07:13.660 --> 07:15.827 additional U . S . Forces to reinforce 07:15.827 --> 07:18.490 our NATO allies and we have more on 07:18.490 --> 07:22.240 call ready to go if NATO activates its 07:22.240 --> 07:26.070 response forces , Mr Minister , we 07:26.070 --> 07:28.470 support Slovakia's current planning to 07:28.470 --> 07:31.640 host NATO forces to enhance europe's 07:31.640 --> 07:34.850 defense . And I commend Slovakia for 07:34.850 --> 07:37.410 his contributions to NATO with 07:37.410 --> 07:39.466 humanitarian and military assistance 07:39.466 --> 07:42.240 that you provided to Ukraine and for 07:42.240 --> 07:44.462 the generosity that you've shown to the 07:44.462 --> 07:47.800 innocent refugees fleeing Putin's war 07:47.800 --> 07:51.750 of choice . Your actions speak volumes . 07:53.040 --> 07:55.230 So the United States deeply values its 07:55.230 --> 07:57.450 bilateral corporation with Slovakia . 07:58.340 --> 08:00.670 We stand together with Slovakia as a 08:00.670 --> 08:04.020 valued member of NATO and we'll stand 08:04.020 --> 08:06.790 together with you to defend our values 08:07.240 --> 08:10.150 in our common security . Thank you . 08:10.160 --> 08:12.260 And we'll take your questions Now . 08:18.630 --> 08:22.490 Thank you . Now the question . Now , I 08:22.490 --> 08:25.640 would like to I would like to pass the 08:25.640 --> 08:27.529 florida to Andre balance from the 08:27.529 --> 08:31.130 Slovak national tv . The question for 08:31.130 --> 08:33.900 Mr Austin at the Ukrainian President 08:33.910 --> 08:37.820 Zelensky called again and again for no 08:37.820 --> 08:40.870 fly zone over Ukraine at the level of 08:40.870 --> 08:43.490 NATO . There were discussions about 08:43.490 --> 08:46.290 that at the NATO level . And if yes , 08:46.300 --> 08:47.750 what was the conclusion 08:51.640 --> 08:55.010 perspective , our President President 08:55.010 --> 08:57.177 biden has been clear that we would not 08:57.177 --> 09:00.640 have U . S . Forces fighting in 09:00.650 --> 09:04.110 Ukraine ? Having said that we'll do 09:04.110 --> 09:06.221 everything we can within our power to 09:06.221 --> 09:08.277 support Ukraine and their efforts to 09:08.277 --> 09:11.640 defend their territory . We've also 09:11.650 --> 09:15.550 stated that enforcing a no fly 09:15.550 --> 09:18.160 zone actually means that uh you're in 09:18.170 --> 09:20.281 you're in combat , you're you're in a 09:20.281 --> 09:23.250 in a in a fight with Russia . And 09:23.250 --> 09:25.670 that's one of the things that we have . 09:25.680 --> 09:27.910 Uh we have said that . Our President 09:27.910 --> 09:29.966 has said that we weren't going to do 09:29.966 --> 09:32.188 getting get in a fight with Russia . So 09:32.188 --> 09:34.410 what this really means is that in order 09:34.410 --> 09:36.410 to control these guys , you have to 09:36.410 --> 09:38.632 shut down the air defenses , they're on 09:38.632 --> 09:40.577 the ground . And some of those air 09:40.577 --> 09:42.920 defense systems are in Russia . Uh and 09:42.920 --> 09:46.470 uh and so again there's no no 09:46.480 --> 09:49.240 easy or simple a way to do this . No , 09:49.250 --> 09:51.528 there's no such thing as a no fly zone . 09:51.528 --> 09:53.960 Light , light , a no fly zone means 09:53.960 --> 09:55.990 that you're in a in a in a conflict 09:56.000 --> 09:58.820 with Russia . So from a US perspective , 09:58.820 --> 10:00.931 we're again our position remains that 10:00.931 --> 10:02.542 we're not going to do that . 10:09.840 --> 10:13.710 Ub mrs Baklava from from NASA , 10:13.720 --> 10:16.580 I would like to ask about the option of 10:16.580 --> 10:19.540 using as 300 missile system to to 10:19.540 --> 10:23.020 Ukraine , will the us help us is any 10:23.020 --> 10:26.240 way to uh to provide us with some 10:26.250 --> 10:29.400 replacement and if we decide to do that , 10:29.400 --> 10:32.100 then wouldn't it be as as we are 10:32.110 --> 10:34.260 becoming a member of the conflict ? 10:34.640 --> 10:35.640 Thank you . 10:38.740 --> 10:40.851 Well , thanks for the question I that 10:40.851 --> 10:43.900 questions for me , I guess so , uh so 10:43.900 --> 10:47.410 yes , what um what has been successful 10:47.410 --> 10:51.390 for uh the Ukrainian forces is 10:51.390 --> 10:54.240 that they've been able to really 10:54.240 --> 10:57.860 prevent Russia from establishing air 10:57.860 --> 11:00.380 supremacy . Uh and they've done that 11:00.380 --> 11:03.440 through effective use of air defense 11:03.440 --> 11:07.360 systems , both medium range 11:07.370 --> 11:09.560 and short range air defense systems . 11:10.040 --> 11:13.360 And so our goal has been to continue to 11:13.740 --> 11:16.320 reinforce those things that have worked 11:16.320 --> 11:20.120 for for the Ukrainian forces . Uh so 11:20.130 --> 11:23.100 we are talking to a number of our our 11:23.100 --> 11:26.820 allies and partners to ensure that we 11:26.830 --> 11:30.230 get as much capability as we can uh to 11:30.240 --> 11:32.351 uh to continue to provide help to the 11:32.351 --> 11:35.110 Ukrainian forces . And so again , we 11:35.110 --> 11:37.277 will we will engage a number of allies 11:37.277 --> 11:40.120 and partners and in terms of what 11:40.120 --> 11:42.350 they're able to do and what would be 11:42.350 --> 11:44.920 required to uh for backfield . You know , 11:44.920 --> 11:47.020 those are discussions that that you 11:47.020 --> 11:49.076 know , will continue to have , but I 11:49.076 --> 11:51.131 don't have any announcements to make 11:51.131 --> 11:50.170 here . 11:57.180 --> 11:59.070 Okay , Now we can go to the 11:59.070 --> 12:01.960 International Media ap robert Burns , 12:04.440 --> 12:06.920 Thank you have a question for each . If 12:06.920 --> 12:10.400 I may , Minister Naja , could 12:10.400 --> 12:13.850 you , I would ask you directly 12:14.340 --> 12:17.750 About S 300's is your country 12:17.750 --> 12:21.450 willing to provide those to Ukraine ? 12:21.940 --> 12:25.140 Um and only if you 12:25.150 --> 12:28.100 are able to receive some sort of 12:28.380 --> 12:30.380 replacement system that would not 12:30.380 --> 12:32.970 degrade your air defenses . Is that 12:32.970 --> 12:36.170 something that is continuing to be 12:36.170 --> 12:38.503 under discussion with the United States ? 12:39.140 --> 12:41.200 And may I ask also a question of 12:41.210 --> 12:43.560 Secretary Austin . Um , 12:46.440 --> 12:48.440 Mr Secretary you mentioned that you 12:48.440 --> 12:50.496 would be discussing the subject with 12:50.496 --> 12:53.850 other allies and partners . Um ah 12:55.140 --> 12:58.030 are there alternatives in this in this 12:58.040 --> 13:01.010 area ? In other words , the problem 13:01.010 --> 13:03.066 being the Russians have increasingly 13:03.066 --> 13:05.350 used long range missiles to attack 13:05.740 --> 13:07.796 population centers in Ukraine . Have 13:07.796 --> 13:09.907 you , as you've mentioned , Are there 13:09.907 --> 13:12.120 alternatives to the S- 300 to help 13:12.120 --> 13:15.090 Ukraine in that long range Air Defense 13:15.380 --> 13:18.880 Arena ? Um That would be my question . 13:18.880 --> 13:19.880 Thank you . 13:23.830 --> 13:27.250 You're right bob the the the 13:28.640 --> 13:31.740 the systems that are being used to buy 13:31.740 --> 13:35.210 the Russians to engage Ukrainian forces 13:35.210 --> 13:39.090 currently , uh they're using a lot of 13:39.100 --> 13:41.660 rockets and missiles and artillery . 13:42.240 --> 13:45.080 And so uh there are a number of things 13:45.080 --> 13:47.360 that can be used to counter that . 13:47.740 --> 13:50.440 We've seen that drones have been uh 13:50.450 --> 13:53.220 have been very effective . We've also 13:53.220 --> 13:55.810 seen uh , having the ability to conduct 13:55.810 --> 13:59.550 counter fire with uh rockets in 13:59.560 --> 14:02.350 uh in artillery is also very effective . 14:02.360 --> 14:04.660 And so I think increasingly we'll see 14:04.940 --> 14:08.200 the Ukrainian forces turned to those 14:08.200 --> 14:11.670 methods uh to to to counter that the 14:11.680 --> 14:14.240 rockets that you or they're actually 14:14.240 --> 14:16.350 cruise missiles that uh that you 14:16.350 --> 14:20.190 mentioned that we're we're fired from 14:20.200 --> 14:22.930 aerial platforms . I think we're I 14:22.930 --> 14:24.874 think , you know , that those were 14:24.874 --> 14:27.041 fired from actually inside of Russia . 14:27.041 --> 14:28.874 So uh no fly zone would not have 14:28.874 --> 14:30.486 prevented that that activity 14:32.840 --> 14:35.160 if I may . Uh Mr Burns . Thank you for 14:35.160 --> 14:39.070 your question . Uh well We've been in 14:39.070 --> 14:41.320 discussion with United States with 14:41.320 --> 14:44.100 Ukraine and also with other allies on 14:44.100 --> 14:46.211 possibility to deploy or two standard 14:46.211 --> 14:48.322 to give us 300 system to Ukrainians . 14:49.140 --> 14:53.080 Uh and we are willing to do so . We're 14:53.080 --> 14:55.136 willing to do so immediately when we 14:55.136 --> 14:57.440 have a proper replacement . Uh the only 14:57.440 --> 14:59.496 strategic air defense system that we 14:59.496 --> 15:02.960 have In Slovakia is a 300 systems . 15:04.040 --> 15:06.151 So what would happen immediately when 15:06.151 --> 15:08.318 we decided to give it to Ukrainians is 15:08.318 --> 15:10.096 that we actually create a gap a 15:10.096 --> 15:12.660 security gap uh in NATO . 15:13.740 --> 15:15.907 So , you know , and I'm first of all , 15:15.907 --> 15:18.073 I'm the Defense Minister of Slovakia . 15:18.073 --> 15:20.184 My first responsibility is to take on 15:20.184 --> 15:23.010 to do everything I am capable of to 15:23.010 --> 15:25.180 guarantee defense and security of our 15:25.180 --> 15:28.090 people and our territory . So yes , we 15:28.100 --> 15:30.156 we've been in discussion , we are in 15:30.156 --> 15:32.044 discussion . There are no project 15:32.044 --> 15:34.240 comments to make as of now . But yes , 15:34.250 --> 15:36.417 uh should there be a situation that we 15:36.417 --> 15:39.820 have a proper replacement or uh that we 15:39.820 --> 15:43.690 have capability guaranteed for a 15:43.690 --> 15:46.540 certain period of time , Then we would 15:46.540 --> 15:48.730 be willing to discuss the future of S 15:48.730 --> 15:51.440 300 systems . May I ask quick follow up 15:51.450 --> 15:54.130 Secretary Austin Secretary Allison , uh 15:54.140 --> 15:56.140 in light of the Minister's comments 15:56.140 --> 15:58.084 there about requiring some sort of 15:58.084 --> 16:00.251 replacement is the U . S . Military in 16:00.251 --> 16:02.950 position to provide any either patriots 16:02.960 --> 16:04.793 or other replacement air defense 16:04.793 --> 16:07.340 systems . Thanks bob . Again , I don't 16:07.340 --> 16:09.340 have any announcements for you this 16:09.340 --> 16:11.507 this this afternoon . These are things 16:11.507 --> 16:13.729 that that we will continue to work with 16:13.729 --> 16:15.784 all of our allies on and and and and 16:15.784 --> 16:18.062 and certainly this is not just a U . S . 16:18.062 --> 16:21.710 Issue . It's it's a NATO issue . NBC 16:22.930 --> 16:26.730 gains . Thank you both for doing this . 16:26.740 --> 16:29.030 MR Secretary . We've all seen the 16:29.030 --> 16:31.252 increasing attacks , especially against 16:31.252 --> 16:34.240 population centers . Mm hmm . That 16:34.240 --> 16:36.073 Russia continues to carry out in 16:36.073 --> 16:38.500 Ukraine . Are these war crimes ? And 16:38.500 --> 16:40.620 does this warrant a change in posture 16:40.630 --> 16:41.850 for us involvement ? 16:44.540 --> 16:47.230 Well , certainly we've all been shocked 16:47.240 --> 16:49.650 by the brutality that we continue to 16:49.650 --> 16:53.180 witness day in and day out . And 16:54.040 --> 16:55.984 these attacks that we've seen most 16:55.984 --> 16:59.360 recently are appear to be focused 16:59.840 --> 17:02.920 directly on on civilians . And of 17:02.920 --> 17:06.820 course , um , that , 17:06.880 --> 17:09.590 you know , if if you attack civilians 17:10.040 --> 17:12.870 on purposely target civilians purposely , 17:12.870 --> 17:16.590 then that's that that is that is a 17:16.600 --> 17:19.920 crime . So , uh , these actions are 17:19.930 --> 17:22.440 under review uh , by our State 17:22.440 --> 17:25.170 Department and and of course there will 17:25.170 --> 17:27.690 be . There's a process that will go 17:27.690 --> 17:29.857 through to to review all of this , but 17:30.140 --> 17:33.830 but we call upon MR . Putin to cease 17:33.840 --> 17:37.820 these these horrible actions . 17:38.240 --> 17:41.380 Again , um , these are civilians and 17:41.380 --> 17:43.547 and not and not combatants and so they 17:43.547 --> 17:45.602 should they should not be targeted . 17:51.280 --> 17:53.970 Thank you . This was the last question 17:53.980 --> 17:56.560 unless the gentleman decide otherwise . 17:59.440 --> 18:02.830 Okay , so I would like to thank you for 18:02.830 --> 18:06.260 your presence . And gentlemen , thank 18:06.260 --> 18:08.427 you for your answers . And we wish you 18:08.427 --> 18:10.160 a pleasant afternoon . Thank you