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Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO party) said cancelling the purchase of US F-35 fighter jets would cause damage of around CZK 30 billion. Speaking in Liberec, he said the contract could no longer be scrapped without major losses. The previous government of Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats) approved the deal for 24 aircraft worth CZK 106 billion. Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (SPD party) has outlined plans for a sharp rise in defence spending in coming years, but Babiš questioned those projections. He said funding would ensure the army remains combat-ready and meets NATO commitments. SPD leader Tomio Okamura (SPD party) has also criticised the F-35 purchase as too expensive.

President Petr Pavel has described any reduction in defence spending as irresponsible under current security conditions. Speaking at a press conference in Prague, he warned that if the defence budget remains at its newly proposed level of 154.79 billion crowns, Czechia would be among the few countries moving in the opposite direction to its allies. The previous government had planned 175.79 billion crowns for the Defence Ministry. Pavel said maintaining robust spending is vital for credibility with partners and with Ukraine. NATO members agreed last year to raise defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035, with additional related investments.

French President Emmanuel Macron is the only foreign leader trusted by more than half of Czechs, according to a new survey by the Public Opinion Research Centre. Macron enjoys 52 percent trust, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is trusted by 44 percent and distrusted by 47 percent. The highest levels of distrust were recorded for Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Only eight percent trust Putin and 12 percent trust Trump. Trust levels vary sharply by party preference.

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) seized 21,856 counterfeit items last year with an estimated value of CZK 82.6 million in original prices. Compared to 2023, that was about 8,000 fewer items and CZK 15 million less in value. Inspectors carried out 676 checks and found breaches of intellectual property rules in nearly half of them, mainly in small shops and market stalls. Most counterfeits were clothing, followed by toys and footwear. Frequently copied brands included Nike and Lego. Fines imposed last year totalled CZK 8 million.