Fico with his spokesperson Beatrice Szabóová in 2015. (source: SME - Tomáš Benedikovič)
Slovakia has appointed Beatrice Szabóová as its new Consul General in New York, effective from 1 August 2025. She will replace Milan Vrbovský, who was appointed to the post in 2021.
A veteran of government communications and the foreign service, Szabóová’s appointment comes as the Foreign Ministry undergoes a shift in messaging under Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, a member of the Smer party.
Szabóová joined the Slovak diplomatic corps in 2018 as consul in Madrid, following a high-profile career as spokesperson for prime ministers Robert Fico and Peter Pellegrini. She previously served as spokesperson for the Environment Ministry and the Mayor of Bratislava, and began her career as a journalist with Slovak Radio and TV Markíza.
In late 2023, she became director of communications at the Foreign Ministry, shortly after Minister Blanár took office. Her appointment, however, has not been without controversy. According to a February post by David Púchovský – who worked in government communications for nearly a decade and now serves as assistant to opposition MP Jaroslav Spišiak of Progressive Slovakia – Szabóová expressed surprise early in her tenure at the ministry’s previous emphasis on Russia’s war in Ukraine – a shift that critics claim signalled a departure from its earlier pro-Ukraine stance. Púchovský suggests her approach now significantly shapes the tone and content of the ministry’s external communication.
Concerns have also been raised regarding Szabóová’s access to official privileges. Púchovský alleged that she is regularly driven to work in a state vehicle by an official chauffeur – a benefit considered highly unusual for a departmental director. The Foreign Ministry initially denied the claim, stating: “The director of the communications department is not assigned a chauffeur-driven car for commuting to and from work.” However, the ministry later acknowledged that Szabóová does make use of official transport in certain circumstances. According to the ministry’s communications department, she shares a ride with colleagues who have been assigned government vehicles, particularly when travelling to the airport or on official business.
Despite the controversy, the ministry is pressing ahead with the appointment. Minister Blanár underscored the importance of the New York consulate, which serves the largest Slovak diaspora abroad and plays a central role in Slovakia’s economic diplomacy in the United States. Annual bilateral trade between the two countries stands at nearly €6 billion.
Szabóová has stated her intention to focus on supporting Slovak exporters, encouraging US investment, promoting Slovak culture and tourism, and promoting Slovak language learning.
The consulate’s jurisdiction spans 23 US states and oversees four honorary consulates in Boston, Detroit, Indianapolis and Naperville. It also engages with second- and third-generation Slovak-Americans interested in reclaiming their heritage and citizenship. The consulate reports the largest Slovak community residing in the city of New York itself, as well as significant populations across the states of New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
As of 1 August 2025, the consular district of the Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in New York will cover 23 of the 50 United States:
Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, North Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
