Latest news with #neutrality
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — 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.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
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.' Fico's comments suggested a withdrawal from NATO, but when pressed by reporters to elaborate he declined to comment. 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. Unlike many Western politicians, Fico has not visited Kyiv since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion more than three years ago. His government has faced vocal protests against its pro-Russian stance and other policies.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
PM Fico says neutrality would benefit NATO member Slovakia
June 17 (Reuters) - 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.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Irish neutrality protest: Hundreds march through Dublin city demanding triple-lock safeguard
About 400 people marched through Dublin city centre on Saturday, demanding the protection of the Republic's neutrality, with some calling for a referendum on the Government's plan to remove the triple lock. Amid heavy downpours, the protesters marched from the Garden of Remembrance chanting: 'Save our neutrality, keep the triple lock!' And 'No to Nato!' Traffic was brought to a halt as the march proceeded down O'Connell Street towards Leinster House. The march organised by Together for Neutrality, a coalition of political parties and civil society organisations, was in opposition to the Government's proposal to remove the triple lock system, described by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald on Saturday as a 'very dangerous course of action'. READ MORE The Government has repeatedly argued that the triple lock – mandating that overseas deployment of Irish troops must be approved by the Government, Dáil Éireann , and the United Nations – allows permanent members of the UN Security Council, such as Russia and China, to veto the deployment of Irish troops for peacekeeping missions. The Sinn Féin leader said the Government would do better arguing for reform of the UN, 'rather than trying to sidestep it'. She claimed the Government's reasoning is 'just one of the lines that they spin to try and justify what is an unjustifiable attack on the triple lock and on Irish neutrality. If they wish to abolish, damage and undermine Irish neutrality ... put it to a referendum.' Agreeing that UN reform should be pursued rather than removal of the lock, Labour spokesman on defence Duncan Smith said such change would be 'difficult and will be a long way off'. He said no country should be able to veto Irish peacekeeping efforts. 'We're not unaware that we do need a more sophisticated policy, but we don't need to remove the triple lock to do those things,' he said. Mr Smith said mandates can be secured through the UN General Assembly, though he acknowledged these 'may not be legally enforceable'. Protesters, meanwhile, said there was 'no coherent argument' for removing the triple lock, believing a referendum should be called. 'There's a false sense of security in Ireland that this would go to a referendum ... It can just be taken away from us without our say and people don't realise it,' said Kirsten Farrelly, one of the protesters on Saturday. She believes the Government has been 'incredibly sneaky in how they've put this across ... Getting cosier with Nato puts more of a target on our head.' Ms Farrelly added: 'I don't want our country to be involved in any way with the war machine. We could be a leading light in peace and crafting a path where people can see peace in the future and avoid conflict, and what's happening now is, 'might is right'.'
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China ‘respects Panama Canal neutrality' amid warning over CK Hutchison deal
China's foreign ministry has said it respects Panama's sovereignty and recognises its canal as a neutral international waterway, after the head of the strategic channel warned that the CK Hutchison ports deal could jeopardise its impartiality. Advertisement Panama Canal Authority administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said in an interview published on Tuesday that CK Hutchison Holdings' US$23 billion deal to sell its overseas ports to a consortium led by US investment giant BlackRock and shipping firm MSC could result in a concentration of operators that would be 'inconsistent with neutrality'. He also reportedly said that a request from the US government to allow its ships to pass through the canal free of charge was not feasible under the waterway's current regulations, while suggesting the authority should become a terminal operator itself. Responding to a question about recent reports on the matter, Lin Jian, the spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday that Beijing had always firmly opposed economic coercion, domineering and bullying. 'On the navigation of relevant country's vessels, China will, as always, respect Panama's sovereignty over the canal and recognise the canal as a permanently neutral international waterway,' Lin said. Advertisement 'We support Panama's effort to uphold independence and firmly defend its lawful rights and interests as an independent sovereign country.'
