Slovakia’s new Prime Minister Robert Fico has pledged to halt military aid for Ukraine, but has not aimed to prevent private defence companies’ exports. Slovakia is home to makers of artillery ammunition and heavy military vehicles, some of which have been shipped to Ukraine. Fico’s campaign against western support for Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and U.S. foreign policies was successful. The country will halt any shipments from army storage to help Ukraine fight Russian aggression, but private businesses will not be affected. Fico plans to inventory Slovak equipment and ammunition stocks and prioritise replenishing them. Strengthening NATO’s air defence is another priority, with the previous centre-right government supporting Ukraine. Defence Minister Robert Kalinak will review existing commercial and political treaties to ensure Slovakia has an equal footing.
„We have communicated very clearly and I want to communicate – we are talking about weapons, about ammunition from Slovak army storage, about state material,” Fico said after an inaugural meeting with Kalinak.
The previous centre-right government supported Ukraine and supplied military equipment. Before the election, Fico expressed his desire to reopen the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the US, which grants the US access to Slovak airports, similar to NATO treaties, which he has criticised.
