Key facts
- Czech Republic will not meet NATO's minimum defence spending target of 2% of GDP this year.
- Prime Minister Andrej Babis stated the country aims to meet the target by 2027.
- Defense spending was cut to approximately 1.7-1.8% of GDP for the current year.
- The government prioritized public finances, energy subsidies, and road building over defense spending.
- NATO's minimum spending target is set to increase to 5% of GDP by 2035.
PRAGUE, June 19 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will not meet NATO's minimum defence spending target of 2% of GDP again this year, Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced on Friday, but aims to achieve it by 2027.
Despite significant increases in defense spending by many allies due to Russia's war in Ukraine, the Czech Republic spent less than 2% of GDP last year. Babis's government reduced the current year's defense spending plan to approximately 1.7-1.8% of GDP, abandoning previous efforts to meet the target.