Babiš was informed about the non-fulfillment of obligations long ago. The Americans gave him the possibility that extra money could be added to the Czech budget for NATO. However, the prime minister does not agree with this. This would be money that the Czech Republic would provide for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine.
However, the Babiš government’s attitude towards the financing of arms for Ukraine has been long-term negative. Babiš claims that the government parties won with the program to improve the lives of the citizens of the Czech Republic, the war in Ukraine is not their priority, but the priority of Trump, Zelensky and European leaders.
The Czech Republic under the microscope of the Alliance
At the recent conference Our security is not a matter of course, the American ambassador in Prague Nicholas Merrick also commented on the matter. He claims that the Czech Republic risks being included among the countries with the lowest defense expenditures in the Alliance. He also recalled the agreement of NATO states on the increase in defense spending.
“This is not an arbitrariness, a demand by the United States, a simple signature by one government that can easily be overturned by another government. This is an agreement between sovereign allies, each relying on the others without exception,” he said.
In addition to Merrick, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also arrived in Prague. Babiš, with whom he met, had already announced in advance that their negotiations would mainly concern Czech obligations towards the Alliance.
“Therefore, we will definitely talk about the NATO summit, the situation in the Middle East and especially the important Friday video conference on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which I will participate in on behalf of the Czech Republic,” the Prime Minister said before the meeting.
He promised to fulfill his obligations
The Czech Prime Minister met with Mark Rutte on Thursday evening and emphasized that the Czech government considers defense capability to be very important and a priority. “Today, in the presence of the Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs, we discussed, for example, defense spending, which is one of our government’s priorities. We agreed that our teams will exchange numbers to make it clear how things are with defense,” said Babiš.
According to him, the government will do everything to fulfill its obligations towards NATO. In the meantime, she is awaiting a video conference with other NATO member states regarding the situation in Hormuz. “I am glad that, together with the ministers of defense and foreign affairs, we are coming up with a proposal on how to ensure security in this place,” he said without specifying what exactly the proposal was.
According to NATO chief Rutte, the Czech Republic is a reliable partner within the Alliance and is determined to contribute to common defense. He reminded, however, that the Alliance decided to increase its expenses even more.
Rutte visits troubled countries regularly
Czech President Petr Pavel claims that this visit does not surprise him, even considering that the planned NATO summit will take place in Ankara, Turkey, in July.
“I think it’s logical, because before the summit the Secretary General usually contacts countries where there might be a problem. Of course, he perceives that the Czech Republic is still optically at the limit of the minimum expenses, i.e. two percent, but of course he knows very well that part of the expenses that the government spent as defense expenses, that is, especially those that are in the chapter of the Ministry of Transport, will most likely not be recognized,” declared Pavel at the end of his visit to Argentina.
Castle vs Motorists
Moreover, the tense situation between some members of the government and the president, which has been going on for months, will probably not calm down even with the aforementioned upcoming summit. The question arose as to who will go to Ankara as the representative of the Czech Republic. On Monday, after the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Babiš said that the Czech Republic would be represented by a government delegation and that he could not imagine what President Pavel, who announced that he would lead the delegation, should do there.
According to Babiš, the bearer of foreign policy is the government, which has a different view on some foreign issues than the president. However, Babiš repeatedly added that the composition of the delegation is not yet a topic for the government. Petr Pavel responded to journalists in Argentina on Tuesday that he will not comment on the situation yet, because he must first meet Prime Minister Babiš on this matter.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka stated that the president representing the opposition should not travel to the summit and that the Czech Republic should be represented by government representatives.
As a reaction to this opinion, MP Filip Turek (Motoristé sebe) also expressed himself, who claims that Macinka’s opinion is connected with the non-appointment of Turk as a minister. In the past, however, it was customary for the Czech Republic to be represented at alliance summits by the president with a delegation.
However, as Prime Minister Babiš responded to Turk’s statement during the press conference: “Filip Turek is not a member of the government, so he will not decide on it.”
