Slovenia’s newly appointed parliament speaker Zoran Stevanović announced plans to hold a national referendum regarding the country’s potential withdrawal from NATO.
The Truth Party leader confirmed the proposal in recent statements to Slovenia’s public broadcaster, RTVSLO, and BalkanWeb.
“I must say that we promised the people a referendum on the issue of leaving NATO and we will hold this referendum,” Stevanović said.
A shift toward sovereignty
Stevanović argued that Slovenia must pursue a more independent and sovereign foreign policy. He specifically targeted the influence of European Union institutions on Slovenian decision-making.
“Ljubljana must once again become the center of decision-making for Slovenia, not Brussels,” he said.
The speaker acknowledged that a departure from the European Union would likely face significant public opposition. He noted that Slovenia continues to benefit significantly from its current EU membership.
Beyond NATO, Stevanović stated his party intends to advocate for Slovenia's withdrawal from the World Health Organization. He also expressed a desire to limit the nation's involvement in foreign military and diplomatic conflicts.
Stevanović argued that such international engagements do not serve the fundamental interests of the Slovenian people.
The speaker also outlined his upcoming diplomatic itinerary. While visits to Skopje and Copenhagen are already scheduled, Stevanović signaled a plan to visit Moscow in the near future.
He expressed a desire to maintain diplomatic channels despite current geopolitical tensions.
“I would like to build bridges and cooperate well with all countries, regardless of the wall that has been built between the West and the East,” he said.
His remarks follow recent criticisms of NATO from US President Donald Trump. Trump recently labeled the alliance a “paper tiger” and suggested that US membership is “beyond reconsideration” following disagreements over military obligations and shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also indicated that Washington might re-examine its relationship with the alliance. Rubio cited disputes over burden-sharing and access to military bases as primary reasons for the potential review.
