Petr Pavel will lead Czech delegation to NATO summit in Tirana after agreement with Andrej Babiš

Delegation agreement for Tirana

Czech President Petr Pavel will lead the national delegation to the upcoming NATO summit in Tirana, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš confirmed. The Alliance plans to hold the Tirana summit in either autumn 2027 or early 2028, with an exact date not yet determined. Babiš stated that the government decided against disputing the head of state's participation, confirming the arrangement after earlier indicating in July that he did not oppose Pavel attending. Pavel welcomed the decision, stating that leading the delegation aligns with presidential duties.

Pavel emphasized his institutional responsibility to maintain precedent for future heads of state.

“The participation of the head of state in NATO summits corresponds to established practice as well as the constitutional power of the president of the republic to represent the state externally. My duty is not only to exercise these powers, but also to protect them for all presidents who come after me.”

The Ankara summit fallout

The arrangement follows months of disagreement surrounding the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this year. The government initially planned to exclude Pavel from the delegation, but the Constitutional Court issued an interim measure requiring the cabinet to enable his attendance. Consequently, the Czech Republic was represented in Ankara by Pavel, Babiš, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka of the Motoristé party, and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna of SPD. During the Ankara summit, Pavel and Babiš travelled separately, operated with separate delegations, and did not hold direct talks for nearly two days.

After returning from Turkey, Babiš criticized the delegation structure on social media and stated in July that he would never join a summit delegation alongside the president again.

“Next time we will simply spare ourselves such controversies.”

Cabinet tensions and the January dispute

The friction over foreign representation followed a wider dispute originating in January over government appointments. Pavel refused to appoint Motoristé member of parliament Filip Turek as Minister of the Environment. At an extraordinary press conference in late January, Pavel reported receiving text messages from Macinka that the president characterized as an attempt at blackmail. Macinka contended that Pavel acted outside the constitutional framework through his approach to cabinet nominations, arguing that Pavel should not lead delegations abroad. Turek acknowledged in April that Macinka's stance on the NATO summit was linked to the ministerial appointment dispute.

Coordination talks at Prague Castle

Top constitutional officials had halted regular meetings to coordinate foreign policy since January, with Babiš initially rejecting Pavel's request to resume them after the Ankara summit. Direct contact resumed on 27 August, when the two leaders met after a State Security Council meeting to discuss cybersecurity and foreign trips, marking their first meeting in more than three months. Pavel and Babiš scheduled a bilateral meeting at Prague Castle following the ceremonial retrieval of the coronation jewels from St. Vitus Cathedral, where both serve as keyholders.

Although Macinka was invited to the Castle meeting, he agreed with Babiš that only the prime minister would attend. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Adam Čörgö confirmed that Macinka will meet Pavel later in the week during a visit by King Abdullah II of Jordan. The Castle discussions focus on foreign trips, countersignatures, and Pavel's address at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, where Pavel will lead the delegation using a government-approved aircraft while Macinka travels separately.