PRAGUE – Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis delivered a firm rejection Thursday of NATO’s push for increased military spending, declaring his government will not pursue higher defense expenditures despite mounting alliance pressure.
The populist leader’s ANO party assumed control in December and is currently advancing a revised 2026 budget through the nation’s parliament. The administration has drawn criticism for its approach to military funding.
During the previous year’s campaign, Babis had already dismissed NATO’s agreement to incrementally boost defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product as unrealistic.
When questioned during a Thursday online interview with news platform Denik.cz about whether his administration planned to increase military spending, Babis responded emphatically: “Certainly not.”
“Our priority is the health of our citizens, so that they live long lives,” he stated.
The prime minister secured electoral victory by pledging to focus on improving citizens’ quality of life through higher wages, reduced taxes, and expanded benefits.
The current government’s 2026 budget proposal reduces defense expenditures to 2.1% of GDP, down from the former center-right government’s target of 2.35%. Defense Minister Jaromir Zuna assured Wednesday that army modernization efforts would remain unaffected by the cuts.
The outgoing administration, which strongly backed Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, had aimed to progressively increase military spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
While the new government continues supporting a Czech-initiated program that sources large-caliber ammunition for Ukraine through international donations from nations including Germany, it has ceased contributing its own budget resources to the effort.
