PM Golob with Biden: Discussion to Include Space and Nuclear Technology

U.S. President Joe Biden will have the opportunity tomorrow to personally thank Prime Minister Robert Golob for Slovenia's contribution to the liberation of American journalists in Russia. The USA and Slovenia also share common values, strategic dialogue, and a strong business interest in cooperation.

The visit of the Slovenian Prime Minister Golob to the White House will be the first in eighteen years since President George W. Bush hosted then-Prime Minister Janez Janša. Prime Minister Golob and President Biden have met several times on the sidelines of multilateral meetings in the past two years.

"This is a significant strengthening of relations with the USA, which is the result of our bilateral and multilateral activities," assessed the Slovenian ambassador in Washington Iztok Mirošič regarding Tuesday's Slovenian visit to the White House. "The Americans proposed us for the Security Council, and in the past year, we have maximized bilateral relations. Besides trade, we want to place greater emphasis on science, research, and innovation in the space industry and quantum computing. These are the most dynamic topics where America will undoubtedly be a leading force in the coming decades."

Slovenian Ambassador to the USA Iztok Mirošič. PHOTO: Jure Eržen/Delo

The USA is also a leader in addressing global humanitarian issues, Mirošič pointed out. Slovenia will join the American initiative to end the poisoning of children with lead in water in poorer countries.

In the White House, they will also discuss cooperation in the development of nuclear energy. "We have positive experiences with American technology, we were the only ones in Eastern Europe with it, and we know it," he assessed. "In our educational center for nuclear technology, scientists from countries that have banned nuclear energy, such as Germany, Austria, or Italy, come to learn about nuclear energy. In connection with the technologies we have, Americans are, of course, important."

Ambassador Mirošič also mentioned the increasingly intensive cooperation in space technologies following the signing of the Artemis agreement. It is not just about cooperation with state actors like NASA, but also with private ones like SpaceX and Amazon. "Private institutions will be the foundation and driving force of the space program and development, so we want to explore ways to connect our companies into the production chains of private providers." Mirošič is pleased that we have finally broken the negative spiral that resulted in no highest-level Slovenian visit to the U.S. president in eighteen years. "I think this is one of the most important visits in Slovenian foreign policy and diplomacy in recent decades," he emphasized.