Slovenia lifts arms embargo on Israel under new government

Slovenia’s new government has lifted the ban on arms trade with Israel that was imposed in July 2025, in a sharp shift under Prime Minister Jansa Janša. The decision, taken this week, also removes entry bans previously imposed on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior ministers.

The Slovenian defense ministry said the embargo was no longer necessary because arms trade is already regulated by national law and the EU’s common position on export controls. In its statement, the ministry said, “The existing legislation and regulations already define licensing and control procedures, and today’s decision is in line with the common position of the European Union.”

The original ban was introduced by then-Prime Minister Robert Golob as part of a hard line against Israel after the war in Gaza. Slovenia, which recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, became the first EU country to ban security imports and exports to and from Israel, even though the actual trade volume was minimal.

The change follows Golob’s failed attempt to form a coalition after his Freedom Movement narrowly won the March 2026 election, after which he told the president his party would move to the opposition and made way for Janša to form a government. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the move and called Janša “a brave leader and a true friend of Israel.” The article says the practical effect is mostly symbolic for now, but it may open a new chapter in ties between Ljubljana and Jerusalem.