BRATISLAVA – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence late on Saturday, agreeing with Trump that the EU is “an institution in deep crisis,” while sidestepping Washington’s new tariff push and its ambitions over Greenland.
The visit, which followed plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement on civil nuclear cooperation, was disclosed only via Fico’s social media. It comes as the US announced new tariffs targeting the EU and renewed pressure over Greenland, neither of which Fico addressed publicly.
The visit, which followed plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement on civil nuclear cooperation, was disclosed only via Fico’s social media. It came one day after the US announced new tariffs targeting the EU and renewed pressure over Greenland – issues he did not address publicly.
He described the talks as informal and open, calling the invitation a sign of “high respect and trust.”
According to Fico, discussions focused on international issues, particularly Ukraine, where he said US representatives sought Slovakia’s views because it is “not a Brussels parrot” and maintains what he called sovereign positions on the war.
Fico has long promoted pro-Russian stances. Since returning to power in 2023, he has halted state military aid to Ukraine and has met Russian President Vladimir Putin three times in the past year.
He said he reiterated Slovakia’s “peace-oriented” approach, arguing diplomacy should prevail over military solutions amid “other sensitive international developments.”
Fico made no public reference to Greenland or Venezuela, despite his government previously backing Denmark and criticising the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as a breach of international law.
He said he and Trump also discussed EU competitiveness, as well as energy and migration policies. “There was complete agreement in viewing the EU as an institution in deep crisis,” Fico added.
The opposition condemned the visit. Former foreign minister Ivan Korčok accused Fico of acting “servilely” towards Trump and betraying Slovakia’s interests.
Even junior coalition partner far-right SNS expressed unease, with party leader Andrej Danko urging unity in resisting pressure over Greenland and calling on Fico to take a clearer stance.
(cs)