Slovak prime minister Robert Fico met U.S. president Donald Trump at the president’s Mar-a-Lago residence on Saturday, January 17th to discuss European and international issues, including the state of the European Union. Fico described the talks as informal and open, calling the invitation a sign of “high respect and trust.”
According to Fico, discussions focused on several global topics, particularly Ukraine, where U.S. representatives sought Slovakia’s views. Fico emphasized that Slovakia maintains sovereign positions and is “not a Brussels parrot,” reiterating a “peace-oriented” approach and the importance of diplomacy over military solutions.
The two leaders also discussed EU competitiveness, as well as energy and migration policies. Fico noted that there was complete agreement in viewing the EU as “an institution in deep crisis.” The meeting followed plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. Slovakia intends to build a U.S.-designed nuclear reactor at the Jaslovske Bohunice plant, its first such unit, with construction expected to start in 2027 and a projected operational date by 2040. The project, estimated at €15 billion, would be Slovakia’s largest infrastructure investment.
