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Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on June 17, 2025, that Slovakia would benefit from neutrality, questioning its NATO membership.
- Fico made these remarks prior to discussions involving President Pellegrini and representatives from various political parties, as debates continued over raising defense budgets ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for June 24-25.
- He criticized the current arms buildup, questioned the need for rapid military expansion, and said defense increases should support both military and civilian uses.
- Fico questioned the relevance of the current conflict by asking, “What war are we talking about?” and indicated that the choice regarding military aid is beyond his authority, while emphasizing that maintaining neutrality would be highly advantageous for Slovakia.
- Most Slovakian politicians, including Pellegrini, rejected Fico’s neutrality proposal, noting any NATO withdrawal would require a complex parliamentary process without current formal plans.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Bratislava joined the Atlantic Alliance in 2004, as did the European Union, and has spent 2% of its GDP on defence since 2022, in line with the current NATO objective.
"The condition for any support for additional expenditure is that the Slovak government "can use the funds at its own discretion, criticising the five-percent target under discussion.
Slovak PM Fico raises neutrality before NATO summit
NATO member Slovakia would benefit from neutrality, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday, questioning for the first time the central European country's membership in the alliance that is rushing to bolster its deterrence against Russia.
Slovakia could benefit from a policy of neutrality, welcomed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in March, bringing in discussion for the first time the opportunity of his country's NATO membership, before a summit to which the leaders of the member countries...
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