Danko: European Countries Should Consider Whether NATO Membership Is Beneficial

(STVR, 'O 5 minut 12', 22 June) In the context of the US attack on Iran, European countries should consider whether NATO membership is a benefit or rather a security risk for them, coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader and House Vice-chair Andrej Danko said on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday. "A Cold War is looming and I explain to you that if Europe doesn't cut itself off from the United States, it will also bear the risk of military adventures of the USA, which are now in Iran. I explain to you that then all European countries, not just Slovakia, must hold a referendum on withdrawing from NATO and consider whether NATO is a benefit or a risk for them," stated Danko. He said that he was surprised by US President Donald Trump's action. According to him, it's not yet time to initiate a referendum on withdrawing from NATO, but if the conflict deepens and threatens the security of European countries, the issue of NATO membership could be raised. His opponent on the show, MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia' party, 'For the People' and the Christian Union/KU) opines that just the current situation in the world shows how important NATO membership is. He said that Slovakia must continue to be part of collective defence within NATO. He believes that the membership has more pros than cons for the country in terms of internal and international security. However, he hopes that the world currently isn't on the verge of World War III. At the same time, Grendel stated that not every NATO member state has its economy strong enough to afford the increase in defence spending. "I don't know what President Pellegrini's final position will be at the Hague summit, we'll see. But I view Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) statements about neutrality as nothing but political 'dances' to calm down his audience," he said. Conversely, Danko hopes that Fico won't remain only by words as far as his statements about Slovakia's neutrality are concerned. He expects President Peter Pellegrini to clearly say at the upcoming summit that Slovakia can't afford to increase its military spending. ko