The Czech government did not respond to a request for comment. Under its budget proposal, Prague is committed to spending 2.1% of its GDP on defense. The Czech Republic is on track to reduce its core defense spending to below 2% of GDP this year, putting it on a collision course with U.S. President Donald Trump and its NATO allies. The proposed budget plan, published by the populist coalition government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, indicates a cut of 900 million euros from the defense budget compared to the previous government's 2026 proposal, which Prague says is necessary to correct misspending and protect other priorities. Czech Foreign Minister Petříček told reporters in Washington, "The previous proposal was filled with fraud, so we had to deal with that." Babiš is seeking to keep defense spending above 2%, partly by halting a highway connecting Prague to the Polish border, which NATO does not consider military spending. This is not the first time alliance countries have engaged in complex budgetary maneuvers. At last year's NATO summit in The Hague, allies expressed anger at Spain after Madrid refused to formally commit to a 5% increase in spending. A second NATO diplomat said, "After The Hague, we all thought the 2% figure should be settled and not up for discussion." But Prague is moving in the opposite direction. This is likely to anger other European governments, which also face tough choices in their efforts to boost defenses, often at the expense of social spending. Staying at around 2% without plans to increase or even cut back won't help (NATO) become stronger." It also risks angering the U.S. administration. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, when asked about Czech spending plans, said, "President Trump expects NATO allies to honor their commitment to spend 5% on defense." Last year, Italy floated a new bridge to Sicily costing 13.5 billion euros as a way to hit the 5% target, 1.5% of which could be directed to more flexible, dual-use military spending. He added, "We had to make some cuts, not just in defense, and if we hadn't, we would have had to stop funding healthcare and social systems." But this means Prague has officially allocated only 1.8% of its budget to core military spending, which is below the 2% target all alliance members hit last year, more than a decade after it was set. Petříček said, "This has nothing to do with our stance in NATO. I don't think he wants to give Trump a pretext to attack NATO." Since Trump's return to power, Washington has been pressuring European countries to increase their defense spending as the United States shifts its focus increasingly to the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific regions. The alliance agreed last year to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with 3.5% of that amount to be spent on military hardware. This move is likely to anger Washington and other NATO countries. A NATO diplomat, who asked not to be named to speak freely like other contributors to this report, said, "I think NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will allow it. The defense minister assured me that we will reach the 2% of GDP mark." Rome quickly dropped the idea after a "dressing down" from the United States. Via Politico. But Prague is moving in the opposite direction. He added, "We are all making efforts in this regard. The proposed budget plan indicates a cut of 900 million euros from the defense budget compared to the previous government's 2026 proposal, which Prague says is necessary to correct misspending and protect other priorities.. Last year, the NATO alliance agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with 3.5% of that amount to be spent on military hardware."
