Slovakia: PM Robert Fico's NATO Article 5 remarks spark criticism and raise questions about his country's NATO commitment

"I'm afraid of war," Robert Fico told medical students at a teaching hospital in Presov last week.

"What is happening in Europe today, what we're hearing and seeing today, is that the military conflict in Ukraine has got out of control," he went on, warning them that Europe faced the possibility of a wider war.

He asked the students to imagine Slovakia being told to prepare "5,000 soldiers, 10,000 soldiers" who would go somewhere to fight "without us even knowing whom they are fighting, or why, or what for."

Then he turned to Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty , under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

"I do not want Slovakia to be part of any military conflict because of some Article 5," Fico said.

"Yes, we are in NATO . We value that. Cooperation and fulfilling our obligations matter to us. But as prime minister, I will do everything to ensure that Slovakia is never drawn into a military conflict."

The remarks prompted uproar from the Slovak opposition and also a spat with Petr Pavel , president of neighboring Czechia and former chairman of NATO's Military Committee.

"If anyone says they're glad to be a member of NATO … but are unwilling to get involved if anyone else is attacked, then they have not understood the word solidarity," Pavel said.