BRATISLAVA – NATO chief Mark Rutte visited Slovakia on Thursday, meeting President Peter Pellegrini and later Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer-SD/NI).
Rutte and Pellegrini agreed that Slovakia remains a steadfast NATO and EU member and that Europe’s defence strategy, suited for peacetime, needs reassessment. They agreed on the need for increased EU defence spending, with Pellegrini acknowledging that while the issue is valid, it requires further discussion. Rutte emphasised the urgency, stating, “The current two percent will not be enough.”
Unlike NATO chief, Pellegrini avoided directly referencing Russia in his speech. “Our armed forces were built for peacetime, as if war would never return to our continent. European forces are not prepared to face threats – whoever they may come from,” Pellegrini said.
Both leaders agreed that any future peace agreement for Ukraine must be lasting. Pellegrini stressed that this would require security guarantees, with the EU playing a key role. He also emphasised that the EU should approach negotiations with confidence and specific proposals.
(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)