Czech PM Babiš Says Czechia Will Not Join NATO's €70 Billion Ukraine Aid Package and Will Miss 2% Defense Target
Los Angeles Review of Books—Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced that the Czech Republic will not participate in NATO's €70 billion collective aid package for Ukraine and will also fall short of the alliance's 2% GDP defence spending target this year. Babiš cited budget constraints and disagreements over the structure of the collective pledge. His position puts Czechia at odds with several Central European neighbors and with NATO's broader push to increase member contributions in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The UK is separately under pressure over its own defence spending plans, with Prime Minister Starmer's military investment package facing scrutiny over whether it will be enough to meet NATO's benchmark.
- Los Angeles Review of Books — Join
- Radio Prague Intl — PM Babiš says Czechia will not join NATO's €70 billion Ukraine aid pledge.
- Radio Prague Intl — Czechia will miss NATO's 2% defence spending target this year, PM Babiš confirmed.
- BBC — Politics — UK is also under pressure to hit NATO spending targets — Starmer's plan faces scrutiny.
- MSNBC — Join the We the People community