The United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Bijan Sabet, has publicly criticized the local government's plans to reduce defense spending in 2026. In an interview with Czech Radio, Sabet warned that the Czech Republic could fall below the NATO commitment to allocate 2% of GDP to the military, potentially ending up among the alliance's lowest-spending members. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš defended the budget proposals, arguing for the priority of social spending in the face of economic challenges.

Sharp criticism from the US Ambassador

US Ambassador in Prague, Bijan Sabet, called the proposals for cuts in defense spending „shocking” and directly criticized the government for the signal it sends to the region. The statement is a rare example of public criticism from a US diplomat towards the host country.

Risk of failing to meet NATO commitments

According to an analysis cited by Reuters, the planned cuts could reduce Czech defense spending to about 1.4% of GDP, significantly below the alliance's target of 2%. This would place the Czech Republic among NATO's lowest-spending countries.

Defense by the Czech government

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of the ANO party defends the budget proposals, pointing to the necessity of cuts in many areas due to fiscal constraints. The government wants to maintain social spending while considering tax cuts in an election year, raising Washington's concerns about long-term security.

American diplomacy has publicly attacked the Czech government's plans for cuts in defense spending, a rare and direct manifestation of tensions within the alliance. The United States Ambassador in Prague, Bijan Sabet, in an interview with Czech radio, called these plans „shocking” and warned that the Czech Republic could fall below the NATO target of allocating 2% of gross domestic product to the military. „This is a very bad signal for the region,” Sabet stated in a comment cited by the wnp.pl service. According to Reuters data, the Czech Republic currently spends about 1.8% of GDP on defense, and the planned cuts could lower this indicator to around 1.4%. The NATO spending target of 2% of GDP was agreed upon by alliance leaders at the summit in Wales in 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea. This commitment, while not legally binding, has been a key element of US pressure on European allies for years to increase their contributions to collective security. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš firmly responded to the criticism. In a statement published on social media, he emphasized that his government must act in a fiscally responsible manner and „protect the interests of Czech taxpayers.” The Prime Minister argued that savings are necessary in many areas, including defense, to maintain social spending and consider tax cuts in the face of an economic slowdown. This argument, pitting social spending against alliance commitments, is a source of growing irritation in Washington. The dispute emerges at a crucial political moment, as elections approach in both the US and the Czech Republic, and the US administration increases pressure on European allies not to weaken their stance against Russia.

Ambassador Sabet, citing an analysis by the Czech Ministry of Defense, indicated that the proposed cuts could reduce spending by several hundred million crowns. „This would mean that the Czech Republic will be one of the lowest-spending countries in NATO,” he added, expressing disappointment that after years of gradual increases in the defense budget, the government is now considering reversing this trend. Meanwhile, Reuters points to the broader context: the Czech Republic, as an important ally in Central Europe, plays a key role in the logistics of military support for Ukraine, and its potential weakening could have repercussions for regional security. This dispute reflects the ongoing tension in NATO between US expectations for greater financial engagement from Europe and the internal political and economic priorities of individual member states.

Mentioned People

  • Bijan Sabet — United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Publicly criticized plans for cuts in the Czech defense budget.
  • Andrej Babiš — Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, leader of the ANO party. Defends plans for budget cuts, arguing for the necessity of fiscal responsibility and protecting social spending.