Czech Republic Plans to Reach NATO Defence Goal by 2027

The Czech government announced that it will not hit the NATO defence spending target this year. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the country aims to meet the 2% of GDP goal from 2027 onward. Last year, under a different administration, the Czech Republic spent less than 2% of its GDP on defence. The new plan cuts this year’s budget to about 1. 7‑1. 8% of GDP, but officials say this is temporary. Babis explained that the government must first stabilise public finances. “We will not reach 2% of GDP for defence this year, ” he posted on Facebook, citing the need to balance the budget.While defence spending is lowered, other areas receive more money. The cabinet increased subsidies for energy prices and funded road construction projects. These changes have raised the overall budget deficit compared to previous proposals. NATO has set a new long‑term target: 5% of GDP by 2035, with 3. 5% on core military spending. Babis is confident that the country can reach 2% of GDP next year, not as a one‑time event but as part of a sustained plan that matches the security situation and alliance commitments.