Defence Minister Černochová: No one is proposing introduction of compulsory military service

There is no plan to reintroduce compulsory military service to Czechia, Defence Minister Jana Černochová said on Sunday on Nova TV. "No one is proposing it. At the moment, it is about trying to recruit as many professional soldiers and active reserve members into the army as possible," the minister said. According to the deputy chairman of the parliamentary defence committee, Pavel Růžička, the opposition ANO movement would also be against such a move.

The topic of compulsory three-month military service was recently raised by the non-parliamentary Motorists group. Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka also reiterated in February that there are currently fewer than 24,000 soldiers in the army. Strategic army documents aim for 30,000 by 2030. However, Ms. Černochová also said on Sunday on Nova TV that the war in Ukraine shows that the army should focus more on air defence and the acquisition of various unmanned vehicles.