Latest news with #Fico
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Slovak PM Fico Questions NATO Membership, Sparks Backlash Over Call For Neutrality
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has sparked a political debate after publicly suggesting that Slovakia might benefit from adopting a neutral stance in foreign policy — an idea that would mean withdrawal from the NATO alliance. Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Economy, Fico asked, 'Wouldn't Slovakia's neutrality be good in this crazy period? I put this question very officially, very clearly.' Though he admitted the decision was not in his hands, he added, 'What are we all dragged into? What kind of war are you talking about? Who on earth wants to fight with whom? I still don't know.' As reported by Denník Postoj, the Slovak premier also denounced plans by the European Union to increase defense spending, criticizing what he called the 'senseless times of armaments' and comparing weapons manufacturers to pharmaceutical firms profiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'How do you want to spend the €800 billion that the Union is talking about? That's impossible,' he said. His remarks sparked outrage among his political opposition. Michal Šimečka, leader of Progressive Slovakia (PS), described Fico's remarks as 'absolutely scandalous,' saying, 'He is questioning our entire foreign policy anchorage, breaking our relations with key partners and throwing us to Putin.' Karol Galek of the center-right Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, pointed to Ukraine's experience as a warning, noting that its neutrality was supposedly guaranteed by Russia — until it was invaded. 'If there is a war in our country, there is only a threat from Russia,' Galek said, adding that neutrality would place the full financial burden of national defense on Slovakia. 'The Baltics and Poland are already at 5 percent [in defense spending] because they are aware that the threat is already behind their gates. The threat is Russia,' added Milan Majerský of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), who warned neutrality would result in an overwhelming and unsustainable hike in Slovakia's defense budget. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini also responded to Fico's remarks. 'I respect his opinion. Maybe he really thinks that Slovakia should be a neutral country, but in this way, a general discussion can be provoked, which can again result in some kind of petition action,' he said. 'A statesman can never question the security of the state. Neutrality does not mean that you are friends with everyone around you and no one can hurt you, but that you have to guarantee everything yourself,' he warned. The Slovak president did, however, acknowledge the political nature of Fico's comments, which he suggested have been made to spark a political discussion. 'I consider it a provocative idea, for which the prime minister is an expert – to overwhelm the public space with a topic that we will all discuss, but nothing will come of it anyway,' Pellegrini said. 'At the moment, it is unnecessary and risky.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Slovak police seek former defence minister over Ukraine aid, media report
(Reuters) -Slovak police attempted to detain a former defence minister and other former officials on Wednesday as part of investigations into how military aid was given to Ukraine, media outlets reported. The police confirmed they were carrying out seizure operations in a prosecution initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), but gave no more details. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said on Facebook a team investigating ammunition donations to Ukraine under the former government, after Russia's invasion in 2022, was involved. EPPO did not immediately reply to a request for comment. News website Dennik N said police had sought to detain former defence minister Jaroslav Nad, who is out of the country on vacation, and another former ministry official. Nad has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing related to Ukraine aid. Police had detained the former head of a state-owned defence firm, Dennik N said. Slovakia's leftist-nationalist government under Prime Minister Robert Fico has taken sharp policy turns since taking power in 2023, including stopping military aid to Ukraine and seeking better ties with Russia, which supplies oil and gas to the country. Last year, Fico's government accused the previous administration of treason and other offences for various donations to Ukraine. In November, an investigation into discrepancies into data on the donations was set up. A report from the Supreme Audit Office last year had said errors related to budgetary rules were made in purchasing ammunition for Ukraine and it had handed findings to police. Nad has denied allegations against him, and he said on Wednesday on social media that he was on vacation in Canada and due to return at the end of the month. "Today's theatre honestly did not surprise or bother me," Nad said on Facebook. "I will keep repeating to myself how proud I am of how we helped Ukraine. I would do it again. And again." Separately, the government has also called on police to investigate the previous government for donating MiG-29 fighter planes and an air defence system to Ukraine. Fico has been vocally critical of European Union policy to Ukraine, saying weapons supplies prolong the war with Russia. On Tuesday, he criticised plans of NATO, in which Slovakia is a member, to ramp up spending in the coming years and for the first time questioned Slovakia's place in the military alliance by saying neutrality would benefit the country.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Slovak police seek former defence minister over Ukraine aid, media report
Slovak police attempted to detain a former defence minister and other former officials on Wednesday as part of investigations into how military aid was given to Ukraine, media outlets reported. The police confirmed they were carrying out seizure operations in a prosecution initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), but gave no more details. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said on Facebook a team investigating ammunition donations to Ukraine under the former government, after Russia's invasion in 2022, was involved. EPPO did not immediately reply to a request for comment. News website Dennik N said police had sought to detain former defence minister Jaroslav Nad, who is out of the country on vacation, and another former ministry official. Nad has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing related to Ukraine aid. Police had detained the former head of a state-owned defence firm, Dennik N said. Slovakia's leftist-nationalist government under Prime Minister Robert Fico has taken sharp policy turns since taking power in 2023, including stopping military aid to Ukraine and seeking better ties with Russia, which supplies oil and gas to the country. Last year, Fico's government accused the previous administration of treason and other offences for various donations to Ukraine. In November, an investigation into discrepancies into data on the donations was set up. A report from the Supreme Audit Office last year had said errors related to budgetary rules were made in purchasing ammunition for Ukraine and it had handed findings to police. Nad has denied allegations against him, and he said on Wednesday on social media that he was on vacation in Canada and due to return at the end of the month. "Today's theatre honestly did not surprise or bother me," Nad said on Facebook. "I will keep repeating to myself how proud I am of how we helped Ukraine. I would do it again. And again." Separately, the government has also called on police to investigate the previous government for donating MiG-29 fighter planes and an air defence system to Ukraine. Fico has been vocally critical of European Union policy to Ukraine, saying weapons supplies prolong the war with Russia. On Tuesday, he criticised plans of NATO, in which Slovakia is a member, to ramp up spending in the coming years and for the first time questioned Slovakia's place in the military alliance by saying neutrality would benefit the country. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Slovak PM Fico raises neutrality before NATO summit
PRAGUE: 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. The comment has no near-term practical implications but is the latest in a stream of anti-Western positions Fico has taken since taking office for the fourth time in 2023. '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. However, any decision by Slovakia to leave NATO would be a complex process that would include a decision by parliament. Fico was reacting to NATO's plans to boost defence spending. Fico has been on a collision course with Western partners, taking a pro-Russian stance on the war in Ukraine, and sparring with the European Union over Slovakia's desire to continue importing Russian gas and oil, as well as domestic reforms affecting justice and media. An ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fico has also floated the idea that the EU may be facing a break-up. No NATO member has left the alliance since it was founded in 1949. President Peter Pellegrini - an ally of Fico - called the prime minister's remarks a provocative political play, and pledged not to break consensus at the June 24-25 NATO summit. Fico's leftist-nationalist government coalition has stopped official state military aid to Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion, and nurtured ties with Moscow. 'ABSURD, IRRESPONSIBLE, DANGEROUS' NATO leaders will discuss a gradual spending increase to 5% of gross domestic product, with 3.5% for military spending and 1.5% for infrastructure and similar projects. Fico said any defence spending increase should apply to dual military and civilian use, and that he did not understand the need for a quick military buildup. 'Would neutrality suit Slovakia? I am putting this question very officially and clearly,' he said. 'What war are we talking about? Who are we going to fight with?' Pellegrini, who will lead Slovakia's delegation to the NATO summit, said the spending increase should spread over at least 10 years, beyond a 2032 deadline being discussed. Fico's comments on neutrality prompted criticism, including from Fico's coalition partner. The biggest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called Fico's comments 'absurd, irresponsible, and dangerous.'
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine. 'Neutrality would be very beneficial for Slovakia,' he said, adding that, 'Unfortunately, such a decision is not in my hands." Later Tuesday, he released a statement saying the NATO defense spending requirements would amount to more than 7 billion euros ($8 billion) or almost a fifth of the country's budget, which he called 'absolutely absurd.' He said the country had the simple choice of meeting that target, 'or we leave NATO.' Fico would not have the authority to pull Slovakia out of the alliance, which could be prompted by a referendum and would require action by Parliament. A broad spectrum of politicians rejected the notion in reaction to his comments. NATO meets for a summit in the Netherlands on June 24-25, where the allies are due to agree a new defense spending target in line with demands by U.S. President Donald Trump. The aim is to increase the spending to 3.5% of GDP for core defense spending on tanks, warplanes, air defense, missiles and hiring extra troops. A further 1.5% would be spent on things like roads, bridges, ports and airfields. Slovakia, a NATO member since 2004, currently spends 2%. Pellegrini and most Slovakian politicians, from the government and the opposition, dismissed Fico's suggestion to become neutral. The president said that Slovakia will stay united with its allies on the spending issue at the summit. Fico's views on Russia's war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. He opposes any military aid for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
