PM Babiš reiterates Czechia’s commitment to Article 5

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš told Denik N that Czechia would send two mechanised brigades to help defend a Baltic NATO member if Russia attacked it. He said the same applied to Poland in the event of an attack.

The Czech prime minister has come under pressure from journalists to clarify the Czech government’s stand following remarks by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who said last week that he would not want to drag Slovakia into war over Article 5, referring to NATO’s collective defence commitment.

Following Tuesday’s meeting with President Petr Pavel, Babiš said that they had discussed security matters and preparations for the next meeting of the State Security Council, scheduled for October 20. He said he had no information regarding a direct threat to the Czech Republic.