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In 2004, seven Eastern European countries joined NATO. 20 years later, Slovakia, with its new pro-Russian government, is proving to be a source of division in NATO.
At the Istanbul Summit in March 2004, the countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia joined NATO. At the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin viewed everything quite calmly. Not today.
However, it is not just Russia and its president that are causing problems for NATO. Last October, a pro-Russian government came to power in Slovakia. The left-wing populist Robert Fico won the elections with campaign slogans such as: “For us in Slovakia, the war always came from the West. Freedom and peace always from the East. Let’s never forget that.” And with the promise that under his leadership Slovakia would not deliver “one shot of ammunition” to Ukraine.
Legend:
The Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has been in office since October 2023, is considered Russia-friendly.
IMAGO / Alex Halada
“The Ukraine war is not our war”
A day after being sworn in as Prime Minister, Robert Fico provocatively declared: “The Ukraine war is not our war. We have absolutely nothing to do with this war.” When war broke out in 2022, Slovakia had handed over its Russian MIG aircraft to the Ukrainian army. According to Robert Fico, this should now be over.
The Slovakian Pavel Macko is a long-time, high-ranking, retired NATO general. For him, Slovakia is now a “Trojan horse” in NATO. “Our Prime Minister is becoming a problem for NATO and for the nation. Slovakia could soon be the fifth column in NATO. A member who secretly sympathizes with the enemy.” If he were still in the NATO leadership, he would think carefully about what secrets he would share with the Slovak army, says Macko in an interview with SRF.
NATO’s trust is crumbling
NATO already has the same problem with Hungary. The Hungarian government is also openly pro-Russian. Hungary blocked Sweden’s accession to NATO for months. David Pressman, US ambassador in Budapest, made it clear on the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to NATO that NATO’s trust in Hungary is crumbling: “We will have to decide how best to protect our security interests.”
NATO’s tone towards Slovakia is currently much friendlier: When US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin recently met his Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak, he praised the close relations between the US and Slovakia. “Slovakia is increasing its defense spending and networking more closely with NATO,” praised Austin. The main reason for the kind words for the pro-Russian Slovaks: The Fico government is currently buying new F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the USA. Public criticism will have to wait until the deal is over.
“Strategic Patience”
General Pavel Macko also advises NATO to be “strategic patient” with Slovakia: “It is better to have a less reliable ally than a predictable enemy.” NATO’s unity in Eastern Europe appears to be over for the time being. However, the Slovak defense industry continues to supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as a result of long-term contracts.