Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, June 25 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in a few minutes.
Pellegrini hails compromise, meets Trump
From left: Netherland's Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. (source: TASR/AP )
On Wednesday, NATO member states agreed to raise their annual defence spending to five percent of GDP by 2035 at the latest. The 32 allied countries also reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence, according to the TASR news agency.
The push for a substantial increase in defence spending was led by US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Of the five percent, 3.5 percent is to be allocated directly to military needs, with the remaining 1.5 percent directed towards defence-related areas such as infrastructure.
Following the summit, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said the final declaration was adopted without objections and reflected the positions advocated by Slovakia and other member states during negotiations. He welcomed the extended deadline, noting that Rutte had initially proposed a tighter timeframe of five to seven years—something Slovakia and the United Kingdom, among others, had supported.
Pellegrini also welcomed the flexibility built into the agreement, highlighting that member states would not be required to increase spending by a fixed amount each year. Prior to the summit, Slovak PM Robert Fico (Smer) stated that Slovakia would not back any rise in weapons systems spending beyond 2025 levels in its 2026 national budget.
In his remarks, Pellegrini cautioned that rising defence budgets could drive up the cost of military equipment and supplies. “We must find a way to avoid a situation where, in the coming years, we end up paying more for less than we are able to purchase today,” he said, as reported by TASR.
Summit meetings: Pellegrini had a brief meeting with US President Donald Trump, informing him that Slovakia is close to finalising a decision on the construction of a new nuclear energy facility and is interested in cooperating with US firm Westinghouse. According to Pellegrini, Trump responded positively and said talks should continue.
Pellegrini also held his first bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom he invited to attend an international conference on education and artificial intelligence to be held in Bratislava this November. The Slovak president expects the event to draw several global leaders, including the UN Secretary-General. He also told Starmer that Slovakia is ready to serve as a logistical and technical base for any future peacekeeping operations potentially deployed from its territory in response to the war in Ukraine.
Disputed statement: Ahead of the summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claimed that leaders from Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United States had objected to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presence at working sessions. Pellegrini expressed surprise at Orbán’s remarks, stating that neither he nor Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (both Smer), nor Slovakia’s NATO ambassador had made or supported such a request.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
SPORT: Just a month after being inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame, former Slovak ice hockey defenceman Zdeno Chára is set to receive another major honour.
ENVIRONMENT: A fire at a landfill in western Slovakia has been smouldering for more than two months, covering nearby villages in thick smoke, frustrating residents and exhausting firefighters.
DEFENCE: He commanded NATO Allied Forces in Europe for four years. Today, he says Europe could only defend itself against an attack from the East for a limited time, that it still depends on US support, and that treating Vladimir Putin as a partner was a mistake.
SCIENCE: Researchers at FunGlass - Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass in Trenčín are developing windows which can measure and control CO2 levels, and thus air quality.
SLOVAK ROOTS: In the newest instalment, you can listen to the voice of a Slovak immigrant that America came to love and read more stories of people who have discovered their Slovak roots.
CONTROVERSY: US rapper Kanye West is set to headline Rubicon Festival in Bratislava. Activists warn his presence legitimises extremism.
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FEATURE STORY
Feeling the gravitational pull
Michael "Bryce" Bunner performing at a Halloween event at the White House in 2019. (source: Archive of M. B. )
For Michael "Bryce" Bunner, a fourth-generation Slovak American, discovering his roots felt like working alongside his late grandmother who had written and thoroughly researched a 541-page long genealogy book on their family.
"It was in the pre-Internet era and she still was able to find out a lot of information just by writing letters the old fashioned way. And now here I am continuing what she started and taking it to the next level in the Internet age," he tells The Slovak Spectator.
EVENT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
Žilina becomes the centre of animation
Fest Anča flags on the historic building of the local theatre in Žilina. (source: TASR)
The Fest Anča international animation festival is back for its 18th edition, offering a space for students, professionals, animators, children and adults to network and enjoy animated film together. Running from June 24 to 29 in Žilina, northern Slovakia, this year’s festival will feature screenings of 343 short and feature-length films, including several premieres alongside iconic titles such as Ghost in the Shell. The theme of this year’s edition is Our Bodies, explored in depth through the work of Japanese animator Sawako Kabuki, among others. To find out more about the programme and purchase tickets, click here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nominee), has been named Homophobe of the Year in an anti-award poll organised by NGOs Human Rights Institute (IĽP) and Rainbow Slovakia. She received 100,650 votes out of more than 183,000 cast—both figures marking new highs for the poll. According to IĽP director Peter Weisenbacher, it was difficult to pinpoint a single reason for Šimkovičová’s nomination, with multiple actions cited. During her tenure, the ministry ceased funding for LGBT+ projects, for example. Zuzana Slamená of Rainbow Slovakia pointed out that Šimkovičová received four times more votes in the poll than she did in the 2023 election. The total number of votes cast also surpassed the number of SNS voters in the same election. She added that since Šimkovičová frequently claims minorities cannot dictate to the majority, “it only means she should resign.” (SITA, IĽP)
Amnesty International Slovakia has condemned the current system of investigating police brutality, calling it opaque and ineffective. The NGO says the lack of independent oversight and Slovakia’s disregard for international recommendations has left victims unprotected. “If the state allows complaints about police brutality to be shelved without investigation, it is a conscious decision to tolerate a culture of impunity and unchecked police power,” said Amnesty Slovakia director Rado Sloboda. According to the NGO, only two of 130 complaints filed in 2023 and 2024 were deemed justified. In response, the police stated that its inspectorate (ÚIS) investigates all suspicions in accordance with the law and under prosecutorial supervision. (Amnesty, TASR)
A cyclist passing by a new graffiti created during the Fest Art 2025 event in Trenčín on June 20. (source: TASR)
The opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS) has called on the government to stop “gambling” with the country’s defence and security, arguing that NATO membership is irreplaceable. PS' Ivan Korčok warned that any alternative would be more expensive, weaker, and less effective. He added that increased defence spending is a reflection of the security realities brought about by Russian aggression and a shifting global landscape. (TASR)
The government has approved the Conceptual Reform of Crisis Management and Civil Protection for 2025–2030. The reform aims to improve the coordination of personnel and resources and takes into account recent challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, flooding, and an earthquake in the Zemplín region. According to the Interior Ministry, the reform will address the entire crisis cycle—from risk assessment to recovery—and will involve cooperation between state authorities, local governments, and regional communities. (TASR)
Slovakia claimed its first two back to back victories at the U23 Men's World Championship in ball hockey, held in Hradec Králové, Czechia, with a decisive 11–0 win over Great Britain and 14-0 over United Nations. Coach Milan Rampáček's team is aiming to defend its silver medal from last year's tournament. (ISBHF)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Expect partly cloudy skies throughout the day, with cloud cover gradually increasing towards the evening and a chance of showers and thunderstorms later on. Temperatures will be very high, reaching up to 37 °C.
A Level 2 heat warning has been issued for the westernmost and southern districts, while some western areas are under a Level 1 warning. In addition, a Level 1 storm warning has been issued for parts of western and central Slovakia for the evening hours. (SHMÚ)
JUNE 26 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Adriána
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