Opinion: What Hegseth's Rise Reveals About Who Really Controls the United States

Slovak political analyst Boris Zala argues in a commentary piece that calls for Slovakia to 'remain part of the West' or 'stay aligned with the West' have become entirely hollow. Using U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a case study, Zala questions the nature of political power in the contemporary United States, suggesting that the traditional Western alliance framework no longer carries the meaning or moral authority it once did. The opinion piece reflects ongoing debate within Slovak political and intellectual circles about the country's geopolitical orientation, particularly as the ruling government under Prime Minister Robert Fico has increasingly distanced itself from mainstream EU and NATO positions on issues such as the war in Ukraine.