Defense Ministry proposes amendment to Constitution on foreign missions

The Defense Ministry of the Czech Republic has proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would change the current rules on sending troops abroad and moving members of foreign armed forces through Czech territory, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday. The proposal was created in reaction to a resolution after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in which the government reached a conclusion that current Constitutional rules do not allow for a sufficiently rapid and flexible reaction to current threats.

Right now, the Constitution allows the government to send soldiers abroad for a maximum of 60 days for purposes of upholding international treaties on collective defense, partaking in peace missions or rescue operations during natural disasters. This decision can be canceled by both houses of Parliament with a majority vote.

The proposed amendment would make it possible for the government to send troops without prior Parliamentary approval in cases when the life, health, property or security of the Czech Republic are under threat.

The amendment to the constitution should help for example in evacuating Czech citizens from high risk areas such as was the case in Afghanistan last year, the Czech News Agency writes.