Slovak president visits Azerbaijan to discuss energy, trade and Karabakh reconstruction
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini’s visit to Azerbaijan
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini arrived in Azerbaijan on 13 July for an official visit at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev. The visit is seen as a continuation of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, which have gathered momentum since 2024, particularly under the two countries’ strategic partnership.
In 2024, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico signed a Joint Declaration establishing a strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Slovakia. The two sides also signed a memorandum and cooperation agreements covering defence and the defence industry.
Since then, the two countries have stepped up high-level contacts and practical cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev visited Slovakia in December 2025, while President Pellegrini’s visit to Azerbaijan in July 2026 marked the return leg of the exchange.
ХVisit programme and key meetings
On 13 July, Peter Pellegrini arrived at Fuzuli International Airport, where Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and other officials welcomed him. The delegation accompanying the Slovak president included Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Denisa Saková, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok and National Bank of Slovakia Governor Peter Kažimír.
On 14 July, Ilham Aliyev and Peter Pellegrini held one-to-one talks and later chaired expanded bilateral negotiations in Shusha. After the meeting, the two presidents made press statements. They also visited busts of prominent Azerbaijani figures in Shusha that were damaged during the period of occupation.
Topics discussed and cooperation with NATO
The talks focused on expanding energy cooperation, increasing trade and investment, strengthening industrial and technological partnerships, improving transport links and involving Slovak companies in reconstruction projects in Azerbaijan’s territories recaptured from Armenian control.
Slovak officials said that, as a NATO member, the country places particular emphasis on regional and energy security. The two sides discussed Azerbaijan’s partnership with NATO, which began in 1994 under the Partnership for Peace programme, as well as opportunities for practical cooperation and the importance of energy security for Europe.
The Slovak side reiterated its support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The two countries also reviewed the implementation of previous agreements in the defence industry and discussed prospects for new joint projects.
Pellegrini announced that Slovakia’s embassy in Baku would continue to serve as NATO’s Contact Point Embassy in Azerbaijan in 2027 and 2028.
The Slovak embassy has held the role since 1 January 2025. Under the mandate, it helps develop relations between Azerbaijan and NATO, coordinates practical cooperation projects and supports discussions on partnership programmes with the alliance.
Pellegrini said the decision would help strengthen security cooperation between the two countries.
Business forum and additional engagements
A Slovak-Azerbaijani business forum will take place in Baku as part of the visit. Participants will discuss ways to strengthen business ties and expand the presence of Slovak companies in Azerbaijan.
Peter Pellegrini also visited the “smart village” project in the village of Bash Garvand in the Aghdam district and attended the foundation-laying ceremony for the Milan Rastislav Štefánik School.
The school, which will accommodate 840 pupils, forms part of the smart village project. It is named after Milan Rastislav Štefánik, the Slovak statesman, general and one of the founders of Czechoslovakia.
Slovakia has presented the project as part of its humanitarian and social assistance for Azerbaijan’s territories recaptured from Armenian control.
The visit programme also includes meetings with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Speaker of the National Assembly Sahiba Gafarova, as well as visits to the Alley of Martyrs and the grave of Heydar Aliyev.
Agreements signed during the visit
The two sides also signed a number of agreements during the visit.
According to the Azerbaijani authorities, the documents are intended to deepen cooperation in the fields of the economy, energy and security. The two countries also reached agreements on simplifying visa procedures and implementing joint practical projects.
The agreements cover several key areas, including:
- expanding energy cooperation and implementing practical projects to strengthen energy security;
- promoting trade and mutual investment;
- broadening industrial and technological cooperation;
- developing transport links;
- increasing the involvement of Slovak companies in reconstruction and redevelopment projects in Azerbaijan’s territories recaptured from Armenian control.
The agreements build on the strategic partnership declaration signed in 2024 by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, as well as the memorandum and defence agreements concluded at the time. They are intended to implement previously agreed commitments and provide a legal framework for new joint projects.
The full list and official titles of the signed documents have not yet been released.
Outlook
The visit is seen as consolidating the practical outcomes of the strategic partnership launched in 2024. Azerbaijan and Slovakia share similar positions on energy security, economic cooperation and regional stability. Dialogue with Slovakia, a NATO member, could also give fresh momentum to Azerbaijan’s ties with Euro-Atlantic institutions.
Analysts believe the visit is likely to expand the role of Slovak companies in reconstruction projects in Azerbaijan and lead to new initiatives in the energy and technology sectors. They also expect the growing partnership to support regional stability and strengthen economic cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini’s visit to Azerbaijan
