S
lovenia’s newly appointed parliament speaker, Zoran Stevanović, has announced plans to hold a national referendum on whether the country should withdraw from NATO, signaling a potential shift in the country’s foreign and security policy.
Speaking to Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTVSLO, Stevanović said the vote would fulfill a campaign promise made by his political movement. “We promised the people a referendum on the issue of leaving NATO, and we will hold this referendum,” he said, emphasizing that the decision should ultimately rest with voters.
Stevanović, a leading figure in the anti-establishment Truth party, framed the proposal as part of a broader effort to reassert Slovenia’s sovereignty. He stressed that his position was not aligned with any foreign power, rejecting claims that his stance reflects pro-Russian sympathies. “I have no pro-Russian views, only pro-Slovenian ones,” he said. “Slovenia must conduct its policy independently and sovereignly.”
The speaker outlined a vision of foreign policy based on non-alignment and broad international cooperation. While advocating engagement with global powers, he cautioned against what he described as subordination to external interests. “Good relations with everyone, but in the interest of Slovenia,” he added.
Stevanović also indicated a desire to scale back Slovenia’s involvement in international conflicts, saying the country should avoid interference in foreign military and diplomatic disputes. “Slovenia never benefits from this,” he said, suggesting a more restrained approach to global engagement.