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In the current episode of the format “INSIDE NATO”, the editorial team speaks from NATO headquarters in Brussels with Marek Varga, Slovakia’s Ambassador to NATO, about the recent Alliance summit in Ankara. At the center of the conversation is the question of whether the meeting actually marked a positive turning point, the much-discussed “burden shifting” between the US and Europe, Slovakia’s defense planning through 2034, and Ukraine’s role as an evolving security actor. Varga draws an overall positive balance of the summit and provides context for the current geopolitical shifts from both a Slovak and a NATO perspective.
Watch Episode 2 of INSIDE NATO
The Ankara Summit: Burden Shifting and a Stronger Europe
According to Varga, despite some tensions beforehand — such as impolite remarks by US President Trump about Spain — the Ankara summit was overall a success. Given the war in Ukraine and an unstable global security situation, the gathering produced three central outcomes: reaffirming Alliance unity including Article 5, committing all members to sufficient defense investment, and continued support for Ukraine. As the most important topic, Varga highlights so-called “burden shifting” — the shift in the distribution of responsibilities within the Alliance — a process which, in his view, does not mean a US withdrawal from Europe, but rather reflects an expectation Washington has communicated for years: that a more prosperous Europe must invest more in its own defense.
The ambassador views this realignment fundamentally positively: a stronger Europe leads to a stronger NATO and ultimately stabilizes the transatlantic relationship as well. Regarding the partial relocation of US troops from locations such as Poland or Germany, he remains composed and points to the significant increase in defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, already agreed at the previous summit in The Hague, as a logical consequence of this development.
Slovakia: Between Its Own Defense, the Ukraine Neighborhood, and the Energy Transition
For Slovakia, the 5-percent target meant, according to Varga, an intense domestic political debate, particularly around weighing defense spending against social benefits. The country has agreed on a long-term defense plan that foresees a core defense share of 3.5 percent of GDP by 2034, accompanied by the build-up of real military capabilities. Also notable is the recent success in recruiting around 13,000 new reservists for the national defense forces. According to Varga, about 35 percent of Slovakia’s defense budget goes toward modernizing the armed forces — an economic strength that puts the country in a position to contribute to the defense of the Alliance’s eastern flank.
Regarding the relationship with neighboring Ukraine, Varga describes a policy geared more toward non-lethal support — energy supplies, humanitarian aid, shelter — rather than weapons deliveries such as tanks, as some other states provide. The reasons given are both Slovakia’s own stocks, long limited by their previous reliance on Soviet-era equipment, and political commitments made by the current government. A joint cabinet meeting between both governments on cross-border infrastructure issues is planned for September. Another recurring issue is energy dependence on Russian resources, which proved particularly sensitive following the attack on the Druzhba pipeline in spring; Slovakia is therefore pursuing a gradual diversification strategy.
Looking ahead to Ukraine’s future, Varga hopes for EU membership, even though he estimates the path there will take at least another decade; over the past years of war, Ukraine has evolved from a security recipient into a security provider, including through the export of drone expertise to the Middle East. On the growing closeness between Russia and China, he remains relatively composed and sees the transatlantic community as well positioned — provided defense investment is sufficient — to meet future threats from multiple directions.
