Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár will visit the Philippines from November 12 to 15, 2026, marking the first official visit by a Slovak foreign minister to the country since 2015.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro will meet with Blanár on November 12 for bilateral talks and a luncheon, where they are expected to discuss strengthening political and economic cooperation, people-to-people relations, and regional and international issues.
The visit will also include a Philippines-Slovak Business Forum on November 13, where Blanár will deliver the keynote address. He is also scheduled to meet with Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque to discuss opportunities to boost trade and investments between the two countries.
As part of his engagements, Blanár will formally open the Slovak Embassy in Manila and sign a declaration concerning Slovakia's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which aims to strengthen its engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the visit reflects the continuing momentum in Philippine-Slovak relations, which began with the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1993.
Around 3,600 Filipinos currently live and work in Slovakia. In 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$29.74 million, with Slovakia ranking as the Philippines' 75th trading partner.
