Czech army chief calls for higher defence spending

Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka says defence spending must rise not because of political percentage targets, but to ensure the army’s real capabilities. Addressing a command assembly on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he warned that Czechia must never again allow its armed forces to deteriorate. At the same event, Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (nominated by SPD Party) said security cannot be measured solely by defence spending as a share of GDP. He insisted that proposed budget cuts under the government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO Party) would not jeopardise key modernisation projects.