Poland has become a major player in European defense and, in particular, an essential partner for protecting NATO’s eastern flank, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said on Wednesday following talks with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in Bratislava.

For Nawrocki, who took office in August, the trip marked his first official visit to Slovakia. Speaking at a joint press conference, Pellegrini called Poland “an important and strategic partner for Slovakia in this region,” adding that Warsaw “represents one of the strongest armies in the European Union” and “can be a guarantor of the security of the Slovak Republic within NATO.” Nawrocki said Poland “feels a responsibility for the entire region.”

Both leaders highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation in the defense and energy sectors. Pellegrini said Poland already uses Slovak facilities for ammunition production and suggested Bratislava could join Poland’s recent purchase program for South Korean tanks. Warsaw signed an agreement in August for the supply of 180 K-2GF tanks and their Polish variant, the K2PL, to be produced in Gliwice along with support vehicles.

Energy cooperation was also on the agenda. Pellegrini raised the possibility of using the Polish-Slovak gas pipeline to secure alternative natural gas supplies for Slovakia, which faces mounting pressure to end imports of Russian gas and oil. He warned, however, that a complete cutoff “is technically complicated and unlikely to be feasible in the near future.” Nawrocki noted that Poland has already eliminated Russian gas imports and aims to become a regional hub for the distribution of American liquefied natural gas.

Despite differing positions on Ukraine, both presidents sought to emphasize shared regional interests. Poland remains one of Kyiv’s strongest advocates despite somewhat waning support, while Slovakia’s current government has taken a more reserved stance. Nawrocki, a close ally of Poland’s opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, noted that Poland “must look after its own interests even during the war in Ukraine,” referencing his earlier veto of a bill on aid to Ukrainian refugees — a move that strained ties with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU government.

The Polish president also commended Slovakia for its approach to illegal migration, voicing opposition to mandatory EU relocation quotas. “We disagree with the European Union deciding on migration issues instead of the member states themselves,” Nawrocki said.

Migration policy is expected to feature prominently at the upcoming Visegrád Four summit in Hungary, where leaders from Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, and Hungary will meet to discuss the region’s shared priorities.