Fico hits back at Czech president: 'As a former NATO general, he'd like to fight'

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has hit back at Czech President Petr Pavel over their differing views on NATO's collective defense commitments, saying the former general "would like to fight" while portraying his own approach as one of peace.

The exchange follows controversial comments from Fico questioning Slovakia's obligations under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against them all.

Pavel described Fico's remarks as "extremely serious" on Sunday, arguing that countries cannot expect NATO protection while being unwilling to assist other members if they are attacked.

"If anyone says that they are glad to be a member of NATO, in other words that NATO protects us, but at the same time is unwilling to participate if anyone else is attacked, then they have not understood the word solidarity," Pavel said.

Fico responded later Sunday. "I respect that Czech President Petr Pavel, as a former NATO general, would like to fight," Fico said. "I would therefore welcome it if he respected that I prefer peace."

Pavel served as chief of the Czech Army's General Staff from 2012 to 2015 and subsequently chaired NATO's Military Committee from 2015 to 2018.

Fico argued that Article 5 does not prescribe a single response from every NATO member in the event of an attack and gives countries different ways of demonstrating solidarity.

He said that while he remains prime minister, he would not agree to Slovak troops participating in what he called "any military adventure provoked by anyone in NATO."

Fico also repeated his claim that Western countries are seeking a pretext for military conflict with Russia, arguing that increasingly militaristic rhetoric is distracting attention from issues including energy and fuel prices and migration.

His interpretation of NATO's collective defense commitment has drawn criticism from Slovakia's opposition. Former Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok, now deputy chairman of Progressive Slovakia, said Article 5 is intended as a deterrent by demonstrating that NATO members will stand together if one is attacked.

Fico's allies have characterized his comments as a call for de-escalation rather than a rejection of Slovakia's NATO commitments. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said Sunday that he hoped that was the prime minister's intended meaning, adding that he would reject another interpretation.

Fico's government halted Slovakia's state military aid to Ukraine after taking office and has repeatedly criticized the EU's approach to Russia's war against Ukraine.