Slovakia has tripled its arms exports to Ukraine: how this happened despite Fico's statements.

According to ТСН: Slovakia is increasing its arms exports to Ukraine, despite Prime Minister Robert Fico's promise not to deliver 'a single bullet' to Kyiv.

Since Robert Fico returned as Prime Minister in October 2023, his position on military aid to Ukraine has remained negative. He believes that supplying weapons only prolongs the conflict and also criticizes EU sanctions against Russia. Fico does not support Ukraine's desire to join NATO. Meetings with Vladimir Putin have sparked a wave of condemnation among European colleagues.

The private sector is actively supplying weapons

Despite the government's position, private Slovak arms manufacturers continue to actively supply armaments to Ukraine, reaping significant profits in the process. In 2024, arms exports from Slovakia are expected to reach €1.15 billion, accounting for about 1% of the country's GDP. This is nearly double that of 2023 and ten times higher than the figures before the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.

The analytical firm Oxford Economics noted that Slovakia has become one of the fastest-growing arms exporters. From 2022 to 2024, the share of arms exports in the country's GDP increased by approximately 0.7%, surpassing the figures of many major exporters, such as the USA, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

Expectations for 2025

Although data for 2025 has not yet been published, the Slovak news portal SME suggests that arms exports could reach 1.7–2% of GDP, which would be a record figure for the country.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Slovakia Igor Melicher noted that this trend is not a support for the war but rather evidence of the development of the trade sector. He added that the government adheres to its promise not to supply arms from state stocks to Ukraine, as restricting the activities of defense companies contradicts the principles of a free market.

“We joined the EU due to shared values, we respect the free market. Therefore, limiting defense companies would be quite hypocritical,” he emphasized.

It should be noted that earlier it was announced that Slovakia intended to cease military assistance to Ukraine. However, new data indicates that, despite political statements, the private sector is finding opportunities for active participation in supporting Ukraine in its confrontation.