Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has pledged to prevent his country being drawn into a military conflict under NATO’s collective-defence clause, questioning whether Slovakia should deploy thousands of troops to defend another member of the alliance.
Speaking in Prešov, Fico criticised what he described as increasingly belligerent rhetoric among European leaders and questioned whom Europe was preparing to fight.
“For God’s sake, who do we want to fight? With whom?” Fico said.
“Can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen, that Article 5 of the NATO treaty would be invoked?”
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“Can anyone imagine that we would be told, [to] prepare 5,000 soldiers, 10,000 soldiers, and they will go somewhere to fight? And we would not even know with whom, why or for what?”
Fico said he would “do everything” to keep Slovakia out of a war.
“I do not want Slovakia to be part of some military conflict because of some Article 5. As prime minister, I will do everything to ensure that Slovakia is never drawn into a military conflict.”
His comments come as European governments reassess defence planning following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a series of incidents involving Russian military activity and alleged hybrid operations across Europe. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has separately warned that Russia could seek to test NATO by presenting attacks involving drones or missiles as accidents.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he does not want Slovakia to become part of a military conflict “because of some Article 5.” He stressed that Slovakia is a NATO member, values its membership and cooperation, and cares about fulfilling its commitments. At the same time,… pic.twitter.com/7Zk1q2TN2n
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) September 18, 2026
Fico’s interpretation of Article 5, however, differs from the treaty’s actual mechanism. NATO states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all, but each ally must provide assistance through “such action as it deems necessary”. That assistance may include armed force, but the treaty does not prescribe a specific number of troops or require every member to respond in the same way.
Fico, who has repeatedly criticised military assistance to Ukraine and called for negotiations with Moscow, has nevertheless said Slovakia values its NATO membership and cooperation within the alliance. His government ended state military aid to Kyiv after returning to power, although Slovak companies have continued commercial arms exports.
His latest comments come as European leaders warn that Russia’s war in Ukraine has implications well beyond the battlefield. NATO has described collective defence as the foundation of the alliance, while European governments have increased defence spending and strengthened preparations for potential wider conflict.
Fico’s intervention therefore highlights a growing political tension within Europe: governments are increasing preparations for a more dangerous security environment, while some leaders remain unwilling to commit their countries to the possibility of fighting a wider war.
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