Slovak PM questions NATO membership ahead of summit

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested on 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 Slovak President Peter Pellegrini — to discuss proposals to increase defense spending in order to meet NATO targets.

Fico accused Western leaders of being "warmongers" who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine.

"If you ask me, I tell you that in these nonsensical times of arms buildup… arms companies are rubbing their hands," he told a news conference shown online.

"Neutrality would be very beneficial for Slovakia," he said, adding, "Unfortunately, such a decision is not in my hands."

Later on Tuesday, he released a statement saying 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".

Fico said any defense spending increase should apply to dual military and civilian use, and that he did not understand the need for a quick military buildup.

He said the country had the simple choice of meeting that target, "or we leave NATO".

NATO meets for a summit in the Netherlands on June 24-25, where the allies are due to agree to a new defense spending target in line with demands by US President Donald Trump.

Defense spending

The aim is to increase the spending to 3.5 percent of GDP for core defense spending on tanks, warplanes, air defense, missiles and hiring extra troops. A further 1.5 percent would be spent on things like roads, bridges, ports and airfields.

Slovakia, a NATO member since 2004, currently spends 2 percent on defense. 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.

President 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.

Agencies via Xinhua