Fico: I don’t want Slovakia dragged into war over NATO’s Article 5

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned today of a possible conflict between NATO and Russia, saying he does not want Slovakia to be drawn into war over Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

“I am deeply concerned that the only thing happening right now is the search for a reason for a major conflict between NATO and Russia,” Fico said, according to the Slovak portal Hlavnydennik.

As reported, he criticized several European leaders for what he called overly belligerent rhetoric and raised the question of whom the North Atlantic Alliance is really preparing to go to war against.

“There seems to be a tendency sometimes to mask the inability to solve problems, such as illegal migration, competition or high energy prices, by using belligerent rhetoric — ‘let’s go to war.’ For God’s sake, whom do we want to go to war against? Whom?” the Slovak prime minister asked.

Fico referred to the possible activation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which sets out the principle of collective defense in the event of an armed attack against one or more members of the Alliance.

“Can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen, Article 5 of the NATO Treaty being activated? Can anyone imagine being told — train five thousand soldiers, ten thousand soldiers and send them somewhere to fight? And we don’t even know against whom, why or for what purpose. I do not want Slovakia to be part of any military conflict over Article 5. As prime minister, I will do everything in my power to ensure that Slovakia is never drawn into a military conflict,” Fico said.

Article 5 of the NATO agreement does not imply the automatic deployment of a specific number of troops, but that, after an armed attack, each ally offers the assistance it deems necessary, including the possibility of using armed force.