Jun 25, 2025

Czechia to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP, Says Fiala

Prague Morning

The Czech Republic has formally agreed to increase its defense budget to 5 percent of GDP, according to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS).

Speaking after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Fiala confirmed that the Czech delegation is authorized to finalize the commitment during the NATO leaders’ summit in The Hague.

“At today’s meeting, we endorsed a mandate allowing us to support boosting defense expenditures to 5 percent of GDP,” Fiala announced, highlighting his confidence that the full NATO assembly would ratify the plan.

At the summit, NATO members voiced support for increasing defense spending based on the proposal by North Atlantic Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Under the plan, member states will raise combined military budgets from 2 percent to 5 percent of GDP by 2035—allocating 3.5 percent for direct military investment and 1.5 percent toward infrastructure enhancements.

Leaders are also expected to reaffirm ongoing support for Ukraine, entering its third year of conflict with Russia. A meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is slated to occur during the summit’s closing session.

U.S. Reaffirms NATO Commitments

Ahead of the summit, uncertainty grew over the former U.S. commander-in-chief’s stance on Article Five, NATO’s cornerstone defense clause. Trump, en route to the summit, questioned its relevance.

However, upon landing, he reassured allies, stating, “We are completely with them,” solidifying America’s dedication to collective defense.

Broad NATO Consensus Amid Minor Reservations

Despite some reservations from Slovakia and Spain—who approved the joint declaration without committing to the increased spending—all member states except Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned Vladimir Putin’s regime as NATO’s chief threat.

Orbán was the only outlier, but the overall summit message emphasized unity against Russian aggression.

 

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