A Slovenian parliamentarian has publicly questioned the rationale behind increasing national defense spending to satisfy US President Donald Trump, framing the decision as a binary choice between domestic development and purchasing American weaponry.
Martin Premk, a member of the Slovenian lower house, argued that authorities must decide whether to "simply listen to what 'daddy' says and purchase only American weapons" or continue investing in projects that directly benefit the Slovenian population.
The remarks highlight growing domestic political resistance to aligning fiscal policy with Washington's geopolitical demands.
The comments arrive amid heightened tensions between the US and certain NATO allies regarding the conflict with Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently expressed significant frustration with the lack of cooperation from some member states, while President Trump announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, a key alliance partner and top defense spender.
Premk's intervention underscores the political risk for European governments attempting to balance alliance obligations with domestic economic priorities.