Slovenia Becomes First EU Country to Ban Arms Trade with Israel
In a move that underscores its increasingly vocal stance on the Gaza conflict, Slovenia has become the first European Union country to officially ban arms trade with Israel. Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob announced the decision on Friday, citing Tel Aviv’s actions in Gaza as the primary reason for the ban.
The announcement came just days after Golob participated in the EU summit in Brussels on June 26, 2025. During the summit, Slovenia once again emerged as one of the most outspoken EU nations calling for concrete action against Israel. The Slovenian government, through its national press agency STA, confirmed the adoption of a new policy banning not only the export and transit of military arms and equipment to Israel, but also the import of such items from Israel.
According to the official statement published on the government’s website, this measure is part of a broader effort to act independently, particularly in light of what Slovenia describes as the EU’s “inability to deliver a united response” to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Golob previously stated that Slovenia would take matters into its own hands if the EU failed to implement specific measures against Israel by mid-July.
The broader European Union has struggled to reach consensus on sanctions or policy actions concerning Israel, even as international concerns mount over human rights violations in Gaza. Although the EU considered revisiting its association agreement with Israel and imposing a set of 10 proposed sanctions — including limited suspension of Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe research program — member states could not agree on any of the measures.
While some countries like Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands have halted or restricted arms exports to Israel, none have implemented a full-scale legal embargo. Slovenia’s move is therefore symbolic as well as significant, setting a precedent in the EU and potentially adding pressure on other nations to follow suit.
The current arms supply landscape highlights just how dependent Israel is on external suppliers. Around 70% of its arsenal is imported from the United States, with Germany as the second-largest supplier. Since October 7, 2023, Germany alone has exported weapons worth approximately €485 million. Italy ranks third, though its share remains under 1%.
Slovenia’s commitment to a more assertive stance on the Gaza conflict isn’t new. The country officially recognized the State of Palestine in June 2024, and since then has consistently called for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Most recently, Slovenia declared two far-right Israeli ministers — National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — persona non grata.
As the EU continues to grapple with internal divisions, Slovenia’s unilateral move could either remain an outlier or signal the beginning of a broader shift within Europe.
