The Czech Republic is taking all possible steps to meet its obligations to NATO, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Thursday, as the country faces growing domestic debate over defence spending targets.
Babiš made the comments after meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Prague. He said his government views defence capability and NATO membership obligations as a top priority and will continue working to fulfill agreed commitments.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Babiš said the Czech Republic fully understands the importance of collective defence within the alliance. He stressed that the country remains committed to doing “everything possible” to meet its responsibilities.
The meeting comes at a time when NATO members are under increasing pressure to raise military spending in response to rising global security risks, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and tensions linked to the Iran conflict. Alliance members have been discussing higher long-term defence targets to strengthen military readiness across Europe.
However, defence spending remains a politically sensitive issue inside the Czech Republic. Babiš’s populist ANO party recently approved a revised national budget for 2026 that reduced the allocation for the defence ministry compared to earlier proposals.
Under the new budget, defence spending was set at 154.8 billion Czech crowns (about $7.49 billion), which represents roughly 1.73% of the country’s GDP. This figure is below NATO’s official minimum target of 2% of GDP, which member states are expected to meet.
The government has argued that when other related spending is included, total defence-related expenditure may reach around 2.1% of GDP. However, critics—including the country’s fiscal watchdog and President Petr Pavel, a former NATO official—have raised concerns that some items classified under defence may not meet NATO’s strict criteria.
They warn that if those items are excluded, the Czech Republic could still fall short of the required 2% threshold.
Babiš, however, said the government remains confident it will meet its obligations. He added that while defence is important, the country must also balance other priorities such as healthcare and social spending.
At the same time, NATO leadership continues to push member states to increase defence investment further. Alliance members agreed last year on a broader long-term goal that includes spending 3.5% of GDP on core defence and an additional 1.5% on related security investments over the coming decade.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after the meeting that strengthening defence spending across the alliance is essential to ensure security and preparedness. While he did not directly criticize the Czech Republic’s current spending level, he emphasized that all allies must contribute fairly.
U.S. officials have also recently urged European NATO members to increase their defence budgets. They argue that stronger contributions are necessary to ensure the alliance can respond effectively to growing global threats.
The issue is expected to be discussed further at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara in July, where leaders will review progress on defence commitments and long-term military planning.
For the Czech Republic, the challenge will be balancing domestic budget pressures with international security obligations, as NATO continues to push for higher and more consistent defence investment across all member states.
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