Slovak PM Fico Questions NATO Membership Ahead Summit

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has suggested that his country might benefit from adopting a neutral stance, criticizing Western leaders for promoting arms profiteering amid the Ukraine conflict and expressing skepticism about meeting NATO's defense spending targets. His comments, which came ahead of a NATO summit focused on increasing defense budgets as urged by US President Donald Trump, sparked backlash from other Slovak politicians committed to the alliance. Concurrently, Slovakia's parliament has delayed a vote on a constitutional amendment that would prioritize national laws over EU legislation on issues of national identity, including gender recognition and school curricula, reflecting Fico's increasingly illiberal and pro-Russian stance. Critics warn that the amendment could undermine Slovakia's obligations to EU laws and treaties, highlighting tensions between national sovereignty claims and EU integration. These developments underscore internal divisions within Slovakia regarding NATO alignment, EU relations, and domestic cultural policies amid broader geopolitical challenges in Europe.