Slovak defense show carries on after Fico shooting

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — It was business as usual at Slovakia’s flagship defense fair here on Thursday, less than a day after the country’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and wounded in a town northeast of the capital.

A strangely normal atmosphere reigned on the last day of the IDEB defense show, shortly after news broke of the attack on the right-wing, populist leader, a mood that surprised industry executives queried by Defense News on the show floor.

Fico visited the fair on the occasion of the opening day on May 14 alongside Defense Minister Robert Kalinak, who is also the deputy prime minister.

“A strong and dynamic defense industry is a fundamental prerequisite for the security and stability for us and our allies in the transatlantic space – Slovakia is aware of its role in this area and doesn’t want to fall behind,” Kalinak said during the opening ceremony.

No security measures were added on site following Wednesday’s attack in the small town of Handlova some 190 kilometers away. Mixed groups of industry and military officers could be seen milling about between the exhibits of weaponry, discussing the news.

Slovakian leaders had banked on this fair to promote its growing defense industry and latest technology, including a new 120mm rapid-fire mortar system , unveiled on the first day. However, the event took place during an especially tense time.

In recent weeks, thousands of Slovaks have protested against a reform proposed by the Fico government that seeks to abolish national public broadcaster RTVS to replace it with an institution opponents have warned would suppress media freedom.

Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo was a Europe correspondent for Defense News. She covers a wide range of topics related to military procurement and international security, and specializes in reporting on the aviation sector. She is based in Milan, Italy.

斯洛伐克布拉迪斯拉发——就在斯洛伐克总理罗伯特·菲佐在首都东北部的一个小镇遭枪击受伤不到一天后，周四，斯洛伐克旗舰防务展在这里如常举行。

在右翼民粹主义领导人遭到袭击的消息传出后不久，IDEB 防务展的最后一天，现场气氛却异常平静，这让《防务新闻》在展会现场询问的业内高管们感到惊讶。

5月14日，菲佐在博览会开幕当天与国防部长兼副总理罗伯特·卡利纳克一同参观了博览会。

卡利纳克在开幕式上表示：“强大而充满活力的国防工业是我们和我们在跨大西洋空间的盟友获得安全与稳定的基本前提——斯洛伐克意识到自己在这一领域的作用，并且不想落后。”

周三发生在约190公里外的小镇汉德洛瓦的袭击事件发生后，现场并未增加任何安保措施。可以看到，一些工业界人士和军方人士混杂在一起，在武器展品间闲逛，讨论着这起事件。

斯洛伐克领导人原本寄希望于此次展会来推广其蓬勃发展的国防工业和最新技术，其中包括在展会首日亮相的新型120毫米速射迫击炮系统。然而，此次展会举办之际，正值局势格外紧张之时。

最近几周，成千上万的斯洛伐克人抗议菲佐政府提出的改革方案，该方案试图废除国家公共广播公司 RTVS，代之以一个反对者警告将压制媒体自由的机构。

伊丽莎白·戈斯林-马洛曾任《防务新闻》欧洲通讯员。她的报道涵盖军事采购和国际安全等广泛领域，尤其擅长航空领域的报道。她常驻意大利米兰。