THE Philippines and the Slovak Republic marked a milestone year in their bilateral relations during a diplomatic gathering of Indo-Pacific countries hosted by the Slovak government in Bratislava last Dec. 8. The event highlighted a year of positive developments in Philippine-Slovak relations, including Slovakia’s decision to open an embassy in Manila, expanded cultural exchanges through music and sports, and advanced discussions toward the conclusion of a bilateral labor agreement. Officials said these initiatives reflect growing mutual interest in building practical, forward-looking cooperation between the two countries. The Philippines was among a group of countries invited to the vin d’honneur reception, signaling Manila’s increasing engagement with partners in Central and Eastern Europe and its expanding role in Slovakia’s outreach to the Indo-Pacific region. During the gathering, Slovakia formally launched its “Strategic Concept for Engagement in the Indo-Pacific,” identifying the region as a key foreign policy priority. Slovak officials emphasized the country plans to deepen diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners in line with broader European Union policies.