PM Rusnok: no further defence budget cuts planned

The Czech caretaker government plans no further cuts to the country’s defence budget, Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok told a conference of Czech ambassadors on Monday. The prime minister said the Czech Republic’s image abroad might have been negatively affected by the complex political situation at home; however, the country would meet its obligations in the EU and NATO. If the Czech economy recovers, the cabinet is ready to increase its defence spending, Mr Rusnok added. This year, the Czech government plans to spend 1.08 percent of the country’s GDP on defence, as opposed to 2 percent required by NATO.