Finance
US NATO envoy says allies must 'pull weight' after czech defence cut
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Czech lawmakers passed a 2026 budget reducing defence spending to 1.73% of GDP—below NATO’s 2% benchmark—prompting U.S. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker to warn allies must “pull their weight” amid heightened post‑Hague commitments.
US NATO Ambassador Urges Action After Czech Republic Reduces Defence Budget
Czech Defence Budget Cuts and NATO Response
PRAGUE, March 12 (Reuters) - The United States' ambassador to NATO said on Thursday that all allies must "pull their weight", after Czech lawmakers approved a 2026 budget that cuts defence outlays.
Details of the Czech Defence Budget
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis' government, in power since December, pushed a revamped budget through the lower house on Wednesday evening which cut the defence ministry's allocation versus a previous proposal to 154.8 billion crowns ($7.31 billion), or 1.73% of gross domestic product.
NATO Spending Targets and Czech Compliance
That is below a NATO target of 2% of GDP already expected before alliance members pledged last year in the Hague to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP plus 1.5% on other defence-relevant investments over the next decade.
The Czech Finance Ministry says total defence spending in the budget will reach 2.07% of GDP, but the country's budget watchdog has warned that includes money earmarked elsewhere, like for the transport ministry for road projects, that may not be recognised by NATO.
US Ambassador's Statement
"All Allies must pull their weight and honor The Hague Defense Commitment," U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on X on Thursday with a picture of a news headline on the Czech budget approval.
Call for Increased Defence Spending
"These numbers are not arbitrary. They are about meeting the moment - and the moment requires 5% as the standard. No excuses, no opt-outs."
Watchdog and Political Reactions
Concerns Over Defence Spending Definitions
WATCHDOG DOUBTS SOME DEFENCE SPENDING MEETS DEFINITION
European NATO countries are under pressure to raise defence spending amid the Ukraine-Russia war and at U.S. President Donald Trump's urging.
Prime Minister and President's Positions
Babis, whose populist ANO party won elections last year, said in February the country was "certainly not" on the path to raising core defence spending to the 3.5% target, saying there was a different focus, like on healthcare.
The budget watchdog on Thursday reiterated "strong doubts" that some spending deemed defence in this year's budget would meet NATO's definition.
President Petr Pavel, a former NATO official, has also said defence cuts risked a loss of trust from allies - but has signalled he would not veto the budget.
Potential Impact on NATO Standing
U.S. Ambassador to Prague Nicholas Merrick said last week the Czech Republic may slip to the bottom of NATO's defence-spending ranks.
($1 = 21.1860 Czech crowns)
(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague and Lili Bayer in Brussels, Editing by William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •The Czech 2026 defence budget allocates 154.8 billion crowns (~1.73% of GDP), undercutting NATO’s 2% spending guideline and U.S. expectations. (apnews.com)
- •Czech Finance Ministry claims total defence-related outlays reach 2.07% of GDP, but watchdogs caution this includes spending in areas like transport infrastructure that NATO may not count. (apnews.com)
- •At NATO’s 2025 Hague summit, allies agreed to ramp up defence to 3.5% of GDP plus 1.5% on security‑relevant investments (total 5%) by 2035, raising the stakes of the Czech shortfall. (apnews.com)
- •U.S. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker urged all allies to meet the higher standard—5% of GDP in combined spending—with no excuses or opt‑outs, emphasizing that ‘these numbers are not arbitrary.’ (apnews.com)
- •Czech Prime Minister Babiš maintains that defence spending this year reflects fiscal limits and prioritises domestic needs like healthcare, though critics—including President Pavel—warn of eroded trust and falling NATO ranking. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about US NATO envoy says allies must 'pull weight' after Czech defence cut
1Why did the US NATO envoy comment on the Czech defence budget?
The US NATO envoy commented to urge all NATO allies, including the Czech Republic, to meet agreed defence spending targets after Czech lawmakers approved a budget that cut defence outlays below NATO's 2% GDP goal.
2What is the current Czech defence budget as a percentage of GDP?
The approved Czech defence ministry budget is 1.73% of GDP, below NATO's 2% target, though the finance ministry claims total defence spending could reach 2.07% of GDP when including additional allocations.
3Why are there doubts about the Czech defence spending figures?
The Czech budget watchdog expressed doubts because some funds counted as defence spending are earmarked for other ministries, like transport, and may not meet NATO’s definition of defence outlays.
4What is NATO's defence spending target?
NATO's current target is for member countries to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, with a new pledge raising this ambition to 3.5% plus 1.5% for relevant investments over the next decade.
5How has the Czech government responded to calls for higher defence spending?
Prime Minister Andrej Babis stated the country would not prioritize raising defence spending to the 3.5% target, focusing instead on other areas like healthcare.
