BRUSSELS - The Czech Republic is ready to support an increase in defence spending up to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) if the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in The Hague agrees on it in June. Czech President Petr Pavel said this at a press conference in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"If we agree on a new defence spending target at the June summit, the Czech Republic is ready to support this agreement," President Pavel said. At the same time, however, he warned that any increase must be linked to specific strategic objectives and effective use of resources.
According to Pavel, today's security situation is significantly different from a few years ago. In the context of Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine and growing instability in other regions, he said the Alliance must be ready to respond quickly and forcefully. "We must not only be able to defend ourselves, but also deter potential aggressors with sufficient force," he stressed.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte appreciated the Czech position and stressed that a unified approach of the member states is crucial for maintaining collective security. "Five per cent of GDP would not just be a symbolic step, but a real investment in the security of our civilisation," he said.
The conclusions of the June summit in The Hague will, according to experts, be crucial for NATO's future direction and its ability to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
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