Czech Republic Will Not Meet NATO Defense Spending Target This Year, Says Prime Minister Babiš

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš acknowledged that his country will likely fail to meet NATO's requirement that member states spend two percent of their gross domestic product on defense this year. Babiš blamed the budget deficit for the shortfall while insisting his government is doing everything possible to fulfill NATO commitments. The Czech leader also sharply criticized European Union institutions over their decarbonization policies. NATO established the two percent GDP spending target as a benchmark for member countries to ensure adequate defense capabilities, though many allies have struggled to reach this threshold consistently since the guideline was formally adopted.