PM Fico says neutrality would benefit NATO member Slovakia
FILE PHOTO: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a meeting with Russian President at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/Pool via REUTERS/File photo
NATO member Slovakia would benefit from being a neutral country, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday, without announcing any plan to take steps in that direction.
"If you ask me, I tell you that in these nonsensical times of arms buildup, when arms companies are rubbing their hands... neutrality would benefit Slovakia very much," he told a press conference shown online.
"But unfortunately this decision is not in my hands," he said, without giving details, although any decision by Slovakia to leave NATO would be a complex process that would include a decision by parliament.
No NATO member has left the alliance since it was founded in 1949.
Slovakia, which is also a European Union member, has diverged from Western allies in its position on Ukraine under Fico and his leftist-nationalist government coalition, and stopped official state military aid to Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion.
Fico was speaking before a meeting on Tuesday between Slovak political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini ahead of a NATO summit on June 24-25.
NATO leaders will discuss increasing their defence and related spending gradually to 5% of gross domestic product, with 3.5% for military spending and 1.5% for infrastructure and other security-related projects.
Fico said any defence spending increase would have to be gradual and for dual military and civilian use, and that Slovakia could achieve requested military capabilities for less.
He also said he did not understand the need for a buildup in military capacities, which is the main focus of NATO's efforts to deter Russia after its attack against Ukraine.
"Would neutrality suit Slovakia? I am putting this question very officially and clearly," he said in response to a question during a briefing at the country's economy ministry.
"What war are we talking about? Who are we going to fight with?" Fico said. REUTERS
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