British Ambassador Nigel Baker (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
Saying one thing at home and something else abroad is a risky game that cannot be played indefinitely, says British Ambassador NIGEL BAKER, who is leaving Slovakia this summer after almost five years, in an interview with the daily SME.
“Words do matter, and people hear them. If the top Slovak official says that the coalition of the willing is about warmongering, or that there should be a debate about Slovakia’s neutrality when Slovakia is an ally, then yes—people hear that and draw their own conclusions,” he says.
You’re coming to the end of your time in Slovakia after five years and will soon be returning to London. Over the past few years, “moving to the West” has been on the minds of many Slovaks. How does it feel to be leaving Slovakia yourself?
I'll be sad. I'm leaving Slovakia in terms of the job, not in terms of family or friends, and I expect to be in Slovakia frequently. It is possible my next role might bring me back into the continent. Slovakia has been an important part of my professional life. I've been in the Foreign Office now 35 years, and so about 10 of those years have been linked to Slovakia.
Was it difficult being the British ambassador to Slovakia during this period? You arrived in the middle of the pandemic, witnessed the Russian invasion, political upheavals in Slovakia, and, of course, Brexit.
Hard? No, that's not really the word. There were challenges. The Russian invasion has changed the direction of European history, and Slovakia is bordering with Ukraine, so that was a huge challenge. But I was really pleased to be able to support the Slovak government in its response to that challenge, as well as support my own government in working with a neighbour to Ukraine. It was easier when Slovakia had a government that was more forward-leaning in relation to supporting Ukraine, and I'd like to see more positive language now, but that's also part of a diplomatic life. You make the best of what you've got in front of you.
The relationship with Slovakia is embedded in all sorts of things that transcend individual political parties or even governments. The trade relationship is very strong. We have a huge Slovak community in the UK. A lot of Slovaks know about the UK and understand what we are trying to do, and that's certainly the feedback we get either here in Bratislava or when I'm travelling around the country. Reinforcing the bedrock of that relationship and making it more sustainable was also part of my role.
The political landscape in Slovakia has changed quite dramatically over the past five years. Has that affected the UK’s relationship with the Slovak government? Is Slovakia still viewed as a reliable and trustworthy partner?
