Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that the war in Ukraine could turn into a wider conflict and announced that he did not want his country to be part of any military conflict.
Meeting with medical students at a university hospital in the city of Prešov, Fico said that he was concerned about the current security environment in Europe, saying, "I am afraid of war."
Claiming that the war in Ukraine was "out of control", Fico suggested that sending thousands of soldiers from Slovakia to another country might be on the agenda.
Fico also touched upon NATO's Article 5 in his speech.
Stating that they attach importance to Slovakia's NATO membership and its obligations within the alliance, Fico said that he will do his best to prevent his country from getting into a war.
Fico said, "I do not want Slovakia to be part of a military conflict due to any Article 5."
Article 5 of NATO stipulates that an armed attack against one member country is considered an attack on all members. However, implementation of the article does not mean that each member state is obliged to send combat troops directly.
According to NATO, countries provide assistance to the attacked ally as they deem necessary; This assistance may include the use of military force or can be provided in different ways.
REACTION FROM CZECHIA PRESIDENT PAVEL
Fico's words attracted the reaction of the Slovakian opposition, as well as the Czech President and former head of the NATO Military Committee, Petr Pavel.
Pavel stated that NATO membership does not only mean benefiting from security guarantees, and that countries that are unwilling to support an ally when it is attacked calls into question the principle of solidarity within the alliance.
Fico responded to Pavel's words by saying that as a former NATO general, he could "understand why he wants to fight", but he preferred peace.
Criticisms against Fico continued within Slovakia as well. Former Slovak Foreign Minister and GLOBSEC expert Miroslav Wlachovský argued that Fico should explain how the country is preparing for such a scenario, rather than expressing his fear of a possible conflict.
Wlachovský claimed that Fico's statements harmed Slovakia's position among NATO allies.
WHAT DOES NATO'S ARTICLE 5 MEAN?
Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty forms the basis of the alliance's collective defense mechanism.
According to the article, an armed attack against a NATO country is considered an attack against all members. After this, each member is obliged to assist the attacked country as it "deems necessary".
Therefore, Article 5 does not require all NATO countries to automatically send troops or participate directly in the war.
NATO's Article 5 has only been invoked once to date, following the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
THERE IS A NATO FORCE IN SLOVAKIA
Fico's statements come at a time when Slovakia is already benefiting from NATO's collective defense system.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO deployed multinational troops in countries on the alliance's eastern flank, including Slovakia. The main purpose of these troops is to strengthen deterrence against a possible attack.
NATO leaders reaffirmed their collective defense commitment under Article 5 at the summit held in Ankara in July 2026.
Fico had previously criticized the policies of the European Union and NATO regarding military aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
While the Prime Minister of Slovakia argues that his country should prevent further escalation of the war in Ukraine, the opposition claims that this discourse weakens Slovakia's relations with its Western allies.
