08 December 2025, Bratislava - The Philippines and the Slovak Republic marked a milestone year in their bilateral relations during a diplomatic gathering of Indo-Pacific countries hosted in Bratislava, reflecting growing political, economic, and people-to-people engagement between the two countries.

The year has been marked by concrete developments, including Slovakia’s decision to open an Embassy in Manila, expansion in cultural relations through music and sports, and advanced discussions toward the conclusion of a bilateral labor agreement. These developments highlight a growing interest in building practical and forward-looking cooperation.

The Philippines was among the few countries invited to the Vin d’honneur, highlighting the Philippines’ growing engagement with partners in Central Europe. During the event, Slovakia launched the “Strategic Concept” for its Engagement in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting Slovakia’s increasing diplomatic and economic engagement in the region as one of its key foreign policy priorities. Slovakia announced its alignment with EU policies on the Indo-Pacific, including upholding a rules-based international order particularly in maintaining open international sea lanes, and adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. END.