Fico mentioned Slovakia’s neutrality; President, Minister of Interior, and opposition insist on anchoring in the EU and NATO

Bratislava – The Hlas-SD party will continue to guarantee that Slovakia does not deviate from its living space and remains anchored in the European Union and NATO. The party chairman and Minister of the Interior Matúš Šutaj Eštok declared this on social media on Tuesday after Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated that neutrality would suit Slovakia in these times, TASR reports.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister stated that Slovakia would “in these times, when arms companies are rubbing their hands and Europe is talking about war,” benefit from neutrality. However, he added that this decision is not in his hands. During a round table with the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, regarding the issue of increasing defense spending, Fico pointed out that the EU, unlike its restrained stance on the conflict in Gaza and the Israeli-Iranian escalation, and its emphasis on peace and diplomacy, provokes the situation in Ukraine, which he perceives as preparation for war.

“All three highest constitutional officials, including the Prime Minister, signed a memorandum on the clear anchoring of Slovakia in the European Union and NATO. The program declaration of this government determines our living and security space in the EU and NATO,” stated Šutaj Eštok. He pointed out that thanks to EU membership, Slovakia has a stable and prosperous living space. “We are building new schools, roads, and renovating playgrounds. Our membership in NATO also provides us with a security umbrella that protects our country,” he noted.

President Pellegrini, in response to Robert Fico’s words about neutrality, stated that neutrality would likely be exponentially more expensive for Slovakia than the country’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.

“Neutrality means that you are not part of any major international institutions, but then you have to guarantee everything yourself. And then it might not be about 3.5 percent for armament, but maybe seven, eight, ten, and we would not be able to handle that at all,” the president pointed out.

The opposition parties PS, KDH, and SaS realize that defense spending needs to be gradually increased. However, they insist that a working expert group be established to oversee transparency in spending. According to them, representatives of the opposition should also be part of it. The party leaders stated this after a round table meeting with President Pellegrini, Prime Minister Fico, coalition party leaders, and Minister of Defense Robert Kaliňák.

The leader of PS, the largest opposition party, Michal Šimečka, described Fico’s words about neutrality as scandalous. “I confronted the Prime Minister about what he meant, but I did not receive an answer. I consider such a stance a security threat to Slovakia,” Šimečka added. (June 17)

“All three highest constitutional officials, including the Prime Minister, signed a memorandum on the clear anchoring of Slovakia in the European Union and NATO. The program declaration of this government determines our living and security space in the EU and NATO.” Matúš Šutaj Eštok