Canada-Slovakia relations

On this page

• Bilateral relations
• Trade relations
• Operations
• Partnerships and organizations

Bilateral relations

Canada and Slovakia enjoy excellent bilateral relations, largely thanks to Canada’s sheltering of Czechoslovak political refugees in 1948 and 1968, steadfast support for dissidents throughout the Communist period, and the strengthening of Canada-Slovakia personal and family ties since 1989. The community of about 65,000 Canadians of Slovak heritage is a link that enhances ties between the two countries. 

Canada is represented in Slovakia by the Embassy of Canada in Bratislava. Slovakia is represented in Canada by an embassy in Ottawa. Slovakia also has consulates in Calgary, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Trade relations

The Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement provides opportunities to grow the bilateral economic relationship between Canada and Slovakia.

Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Slovakia reached $991.6 million in 2022, with Canadian merchandise exports to Slovakia accounting for $50.8 million. Merchandise imports from Slovakia to Canada increased to $940.9 million.

In 2022, Canadian direct investment abroad in Slovakia was valued at $106 million. That same year, foreign direct investment from Slovakia in Canada was valued at $5 million.

Related links

• Trade and investment agreements
• Import / Export controls
• Doing business in the Slovak Republic

Operations

Canada was the first to ratify Slovakia’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Since July 2018, Slovakia has been deploying up to 152 soldiers to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group in the Canada-led sector in Latvia. We have also worked together in peacekeeping missions, including in Afghanistan and in the former Yugoslavia.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Slovakia work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

• European Union (EU)
• La Francophonie
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Open Government Partnership (OGP)
• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
• The Pacific Alliance
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)