Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the historic move, calling it a reflection of the growing partnership with Ljubljana under Slovenia’s newly elected conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša.

“Today, I am proud to announce that Israel will open its first-ever embassy in Ljubljana. The election of Prime Minister Janez Janša marks a new chapter in relations between Israel and Slovenia.”

Saar said the previous Slovenian government had been hostile to Israel. Now, he said, there’s an opportunity to rebuild and deepen a real partnership.

The foreign minister emphasized the embassy represents more than just diplomacy.

“An Israeli embassy is more than a diplomatic mission. It is a statement of friendship, dialogue, and a shared belief in freedom, democracy, and security,” Saar said.

Janša, a member of the Slovenian Democratic Party, is one of Europe’s best-known conservative leaders. He has long advocated closer ties with both Israel and the United States.

Throughout his career, Janša has aligned himself with President Donald Trump on issues including national sovereignty, border security, and opposition to excessive European Union centralization.

Slovenia — a former Yugoslav republic that gained independence in 1991 — is a member of both the EU and NATO. The nation has approximately 2.1 million people.

The embassy opening comes as Israel faces increasing criticism from several European governments over Middle East policy. In response, Jerusalem has moved to strengthen ties with governments viewed as friendly.

Hungary has remained one of Israel’s closest EU partners, frequently resisting efforts to adopt harsher positions toward the Jewish state. Serbia, while not an EU member, has also maintained warm relations and expanded cooperation with Israel in recent years.