President Pavel: Europe must boost defense spending to protect values

Europe needs to increase and improve defense spending to protect its values and security, Czech President Petr Pavel stated at the Prague Defence Summit. He argued that the current target of 2% of GDP is insufficient. Pavel emphasized the importance of readiness for military, cyber, and disinformation threats, calling for stronger NATO coordination and technological cooperation. The war in Ukraine, he said, underscores the urgent need for a reinforced NATO eastern flank and highlights the importance of a strong transatlantic alliance to counter authoritarian threats.