Czech Republic rejects NATO calls for increased defense spending

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has rejected calls from the United States and NATO to increase defense spending, stating that the country cannot afford a faster increase at this time. Despite growing security concerns regarding Russia and pressure from Washington, the Czech government has reduced planned defense spending for 2026 to approximately 1.7 percent of GDP.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker recently urged Prague to increase its commitment, noting that NATO has raised its target defense spending level from 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP. While Babiš maintains that NATO membership is strategically vital, he has only pledged to reach the 2 percent threshold by 2027, with no plans for further increases beyond that.

The dispute comes amid rising regional tensions involving Russian hybrid warfare, including drone incidents and cyberattacks. Babiš is reportedly relying on his personal relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to navigate the friction with Washington and ensure Czech security.