NATO chief Rutte to meet PM Babiš in Prague on Thursday

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to visit Czechia on Thursday and will hold talks with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, according to a NATO statement. The two are due to hold a joint news conference at 18:30.

The government says that President Petr Pavel will not represent Czechia at a NATO summit in June, despite previous custom. For his part, the head of state says he plans to attend the meeting in Ankara.

Mr. Pavel has been critical of the fact that the government’s budget for 2026 will not meet a commitment to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defence.