Slovakia plans to take a tough stance at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. The country's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has declared his intention to block further financial and military support for Ukraine. According to him, Bratislava will not participate in new military loans or financial contributions in favor of Kyiv.
Instructions for the delegation: refusal of new commitments
Robert Fico confirmed that next week a meeting at the highest constitutional level will take place, attended by Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák. The main goal of these negotiations will be to formulate clear instructions for the Slovak delegation. The task is formulated unambiguously: the delegation must go to the summit without a mandate to involve Slovakia in new military expenditures.
"You know what could happen? A drone will fly here, intentionally or unintentionally, it will fall on an apartment building, there will be casualties or injured, and we could have World War III. Therefore, I say on behalf of Slovakia: no support for the war, Slovakia will not pay for Ukraine's military expenses," the head of government stated.
At the same time, Fico added that he does not have the authority to prevent other Alliance states from continuing to prepare for war if they wish to do so.
Context of the summit in Ankara
The NATO summit, which will take place on July 7–8 in the Turkish capital, will become a key platform for discussing the alliance's strategy. Leaders of participating countries are expected to reaffirm their commitment to collective defense and announce the allocation of billions of dollars for the purchase of new weapons and the expansion of production capacity.
In the draft final statement, the alliance plans to designate Russia again as a long-term threat. It is also planned to increase investments in air defense systems, drones, and long-range missiles. Slovakia's position, thus, comes into direct conflict with the main plans of the Alliance.
Economic reasons and diplomatic line
Robert Fico's critical position regarding support for Kyiv did not arise out of nowhere. At the end of June, he stated that the destructive war has no military solution and can only end at the negotiating table. At that time, the Prime Minister called on the European Union to focus exclusively on peace initiatives and intensify diplomatic efforts.
An important factor influencing Bratislava's position is the domestic economic situation. In early June, Fico announced his intention to discuss with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the issue of compensation for weapons that Slovakia had previously transferred. According to the Prime Minister, the country is experiencing an acute shortage of financial resources, as funds that were planned to be spent on other needs were directed to support the neighboring state.