Czech Defense Minister Zůna faces political pressure

Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna is facing increasing political challenges within the government. Tensions escalated following a recent trip to Washington, where Zůna was unable to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, meeting instead with deputies. This perceived lack of engagement follows concerns regarding Czech defense spending, which has remained around 2% of GDP despite commitments to reach 3.5%.

Further complications arose during a government meeting when Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced that he and Industry Minister Karel Havlíček would personally oversee the procurement of new machinery for the military's transport airfield. While Zůna clarified that the Prime Minister's involvement pertains to negotiations with major suppliers to accelerate deliveries, the move signals a shift in authority away from the Ministry of Defense.