President Pavel in Estonia: Czechia should increase defence spending primarily for its own security

Czechia should be responsible and spend more on defence, President Petr Pavel said today during a visit to Estonia, where he met his Estonian counterpart Alar Karis. According to him, the Czech Republic should increase spending primarily not to meet NATO requirements, but to ensure its own security.

Estonia will spend 5.4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence this year, making it one of the alliance’s top performers. According to NATO assessments, Czechia will spend 1.78 percent of GDP on defence, which does not meet the two-percent commitment stemming from NATO membership.

Both presidents also reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. “The outcome of this war will shape the face of Europe for decades,” Karis noted. According to Pavel, the goal is to put Ukraine in the best possible position before it negotiates peace with Russia with the support of European countries.