Key facts
- Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the Czech Republic would honor its NATO commitments if Russia attacked a Baltic state.
- Babis stated that the Czech Republic would send two mechanized brigades under NATO's mutual defense commitment.
- Babis said discussions on security challenges were ongoing with President Petr Pavel.
- Babis said Russia was waging a hybrid war against the Czech Republic.
- Western governments and intelligence services have warned of a growing likelihood of Russia stepping up hybrid attacks.
Prague, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Tuesday that the Czech Republic would be ready to fulfill its NATO commitments in the event of a Russian attack on a Baltic country. Babis made the remarks in a video interview with a Czech news website.
Babis, whose government has halted Czech contributions to military aid for Ukraine and opted out of EU and NATO financing pledges for Kyiv, stated that discussions on security challenges were ongoing, including with President Petr Pavel. He emphasized that the lack of public discussion did not mean the issues were not being addressed.
"Of course we are preparing. If, God forbid, Russia were to attack a Baltic state, then, under Article 5 (NATO members' mutual defence commitment), we have to send two of our mechanised brigades," Babis said. He added that the Czech Republic would be active and that classified information would not be shared.
Western European governments and intelligence services have indicated a growing likelihood of Russia escalating hybrid attacks, such as sabotage or limited military assaults. Babis himself stated earlier in September that Russia was waging a hybrid war against the Czech Republic and that intelligence services were giving it maximum attention. Moscow has consistently denied plotting confrontations or involvement in hybrid warfare or sabotage operations in European NATO countries.