The Czech government plans to increase defense spending by 36 billion CZK next year, allowing the Czech Republic to meet its NATO commitment of spending 2% of GDP on defence for the first time.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced the plan before departing for the NATO summit in Ankara, where allied leaders are expected to discuss military spending, the war in Ukraine and the future direction of the alliance.

The Ministry of Defense received 154.79 billion CZK in this year’s state budget, equivalent to roughly 1.8 percent of GDP. An additional 30 billion CZK is expected to support defense-related projects through other parts of the state budget, but the government has acknowledged this will still fall short of NATO’s methodology for reaching the alliance’s spending benchmark.

Earlier this year, Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna said NATO estimates Czech defense spending at 1.78 percent of GDP in 2026. His ministry has proposed increasing the budget to around 190 billion CZK next year to meet the alliance’s target.

Speaking before the summit, Babiš described the gathering in Ankara as one of the most important NATO meetings in recent years. He said the Czech delegation would attend as the country’s new coalition government, emphasizing its commitment to strengthening national defense.

According to the prime minister, the government’s priorities include expanding air defense capabilities, strengthening counter-drone systems, and fulfilling NATO commitments related to brigade readiness and force development.

The NATO summit is also expected to focus heavily on continued support for Ukraine. Leaders are set to discuss a proposal to provide €70 billion in military assistance this year, with a similar level of funding proposed for next year.

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