Czech Republic to Miss NATO 2% Defence Spending Target in 2026, PM Babiš Says

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced that the Czech Republic will not meet NATO’s minimum defence‑spending target of 2 % of GDP in 2026. He said the government must first put public finances “in order” before increasing military outlays and expressed confidence that the 2 % threshold will be reached from 2027 onward as part of a long‑term plan. Babiš outlined future measures such as higher soldiers’ wages, better service conditions, modernising equipment, strengthening air and missile defences, and supporting the domestic defence industry.

NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte confirmed that the Czech Republic, like Albania and Slovenia, missed the 2 % goal last year as well. Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna said the government is working to meet the commitments and will explain the shortfall at the NATO summit in Ankara in July. Babiš also criticised the previous government for misleading the public about defence spending and noted NATO’s broader aim to raise defence expenditure to 5 % of GDP by 2035.