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Posted on 09/18/2026 7:35:22 AM PDT by Mount Athos
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he would seek to keep his country out of any military conflict arising under NATO’s collective-defense clause, publicly questioning whether Slovakia should send thousands of troops to defend an ally.
Speaking to students and hospital employees in the eastern city of Prešov, Fico criticized what he described as increasingly belligerent rhetoric among European leaders and asked whom Europe intended to fight.
“For God’s sake, who do we want to fight? With whom?” Fico said during the event, as his Facebook page reposted.
Fico did not identify Russia as a potential aggressor or source of military danger to Europe. Instead, he accused European leaders of using talk of war to divert attention from illegal migration, weak competitiveness and high energy prices.
“Can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen, that Article 5 of the NATO treaty would be invoked?” Fico said.
“Can anyone imagine that we would be told: 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?”
He said he would “do everything” to make sure Slovakia will not join 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.”
Article 5 of NATO – of which Slovakia has been a member since 2004 – states that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all members.
However, invoking it does not automatically require every ally to send a predetermined number of troops. Each member must assist the attacked country by taking “such action as it deems necessary,” which may include using armed force, according to NATO’s official explanation.
(Excerpt) Read more at kyivpost.com ...
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Each state can decide for itself what it thinks is appropriate.
Will Turks in NATO be willing to die for Lithuania? Will Belgians be willing to die for Estonia? Maybe not...
Every politician wants to promise not to fight which is why everybody ends up getting into a fight.
Will Americans be willing to die to prop up the UK ruling classes? Or those of the Germans? I sure hope not.
and I sure hope not one penny of US taxpayer money goes to prop up Harry and Meghan.
good to know this about Slovakia the next time they are attacked and ask for help ...
The foundation doth crack.
It’s “cracking” because of Slovakia? Okay
Who does the EU want to attack? Russia? Aside from France and Germany their armed forces are totally pathetic. Neither France or Germany could launch an offensive, though they do have a fair amount of competent forces. Britain, Spain, Italy, etc are bad jokes for military capability.
I know that a lot Freepers think France is a joke. It isn’t and has a fair amount of combat experience in Africa and is considered the 6th most capable in the world. But since France has nukes, Russia ain’t attacking them. Russia can’t beat the Ukraine, surprisingly.
So once again who do these warhawk EU politicians plan to attack. US? The EU has little airlift capacity. The US Navy/Marine Air alone is larger than the Russian air forces and equal to the Chinese. The USAF absolutely dominates everyone. Britain has not even one capable combat Division last I saw. Germany has 3, well equipped. France has more also well equipped. None of this gives the EU much force projection.
Any EU warhawks are up in the night
I am surprised that France is a low as sixth. I thought it would be higher
These are just estimates. The three largest air forces in the world by numbers are the USAF, the US Army (mostly choppers but still aircraft), and the USN. Then Russia and China. But these numbers include total aircraft, many of which are not combat planes. Then there’s the actual capability of the planes and tanks, etc. A lot of China’s stuff is junk. Same with Russia,especially with the current attrition. Pakistan and India have more planes than France. But Rafaels are no joke and pilot quality is another factor.
Imho #6 is probably a fair estimate for France’s military capability.
It’s cracking because NATO membership may no longer align with a nation’s perceived value of the economic outlay vs. need vs. real or potential threats along with a belief that the USA would come to their aid no matter what.
We should withdraw from NATO.and cut Europe loose.
Of note, I used duckduckgo ai, which broke out World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft information. This also lists the ranking of air power as:
USAF
USN
Russia
US Army
USMC.
India
China
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