Lower house approves annual defence spending of 2 percent of GDP

Czechia has made a legal commitment to spend at least two percent of GDP annually on defence. The government bill stipulating this was approved by the lower house of parliament on Friday, despite attempts by the opposition SPD party to block it. The bill will now head to the Senate for discussion and if approved, should come into effect from July, which would mean it would already apply to next year's state budget.

The Czech Republic has repeatedly promised to increase defence spending to at least two percent of GDP as part of its NATO commitments.