Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico expressed the opinion that a neutral status would be most advantageous for his country under current international relations
His comment was made during a visit to the Ministry of Economy, where a reporting day was held, according to the analytical publication Aktuality. However, this statement has sparked broad discussion and has already provoked a sharp reaction from the opposition and experts. Fico emphasized that the world is changing, and in a time when the global balance of power is in constant flux, neutrality would be an optimal option for Slovakia. According to him, “in times of armament, when weapons manufacturers earn profits just as much as pharmaceutical companies did during the COVID-19 pandemic, a neutral status could entirely save the country from unnecessary risks and conflicts.” He noted that he has already “officially and clearly” raised this idea, but also stressed that the final decision does not depend solely on his personal will. The Prime Minister’s statement was made on the eve of a planned roundtable with President Peter Pellegrini, where the issue of increasing the country's defense budget was to be discussed. The opposition forces responded immediately. The leader of the most influential opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, Mikas Šimečka, called Fico’s words “scandalous” and accused the Prime Minister of aiming to effectively withdraw the country from the NATO alliance. “Robert Fico dreams of neutrality. He has cast doubt on our NATO membership — the foundation of our security. This not only undermines our country’s foreign policy but also plays into Vladimir Putin’s hands,” the opposition leader emphasized, adding that his stance causes deep concern among citizens and diplomats. The intensification of the debate regarding the historical and strategic directions of Slovakia’s foreign policy has arisen amid increasing regional tensions due to the war in Ukraine and unexpected EU sanctions decisions. For example, on June 10, the European Commission announced the 18th sanctions package against Russia, which highly likely raises additional questions concerning the country’s economic and energy security. Following this, Prime Minister Fico stated that he would not support this new sanctions package until the European Commission proposes concrete measures to address the crisis situation that could arise in the case of a complete halt in the supply of gas, oil, and nuclear fuel from Russia in response to sanctions. In his view, such steps could lead to serious economic and social consequences for Slovakia, and therefore, it is necessary to seek compromises and ensure stability. Regarding the attitude toward neutrality, this idea is not new: in the past, similar proposals appeared periodically in political discourse, but currently, it faces lively opposition and criticism from the majority of political forces, which emphasize the importance of NATO integration amid the current security situation worldwide. Opponents fear that the Prime Minister’s statements could weaken the country’s position within strategic alliances and make it more vulnerable to external influences. Thus, the situation indicates a sharp conflict between aspirations for neutrality and the obligations and commitments to international allies, especially NATO. At the same time, politicians and experts do not rule out that this topic may develop further during upcoming parliamentary debates and become one of the key issues determining Slovakia’s foreign policy trends in the near future.