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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-18 · by Karel Janicek The Associated Press
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker criticized the Czech Republic for failing to meet its defense spending commitments at a conference in Prague. He highlighted that the country's budget allocation of less than 1.8% of GDP for defense falls short of NATO’s target, urging an increase to 2%, as President Petr Pavel had previously recommended. Despite promises from Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to reach the 2% threshold next year, Whitaker emphasized the need for further progress towards meeting NATO's agreed standards.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker criticized Czech Republic for lagging behind in defence spending during a conference in PRAGUE on September 18. According to NATO targets, the Czech Republic needs to spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense but has cut this year’s proposed budget by Prime Minister Andrej Babis' government to around 1.7-1.8%, with plans to meet the 2% target next year. At a summit in The Hague last year, NATO members agreed to invest 3.5% of GDP on core defense requirements and an additional 1.5% on defense and security-related spending by 2035. Whitaker noted that the Czech Republic's trend towards low defence spending is disappointing and urged for more progress towards these commitments.
Written for “Czech Republic Defense Spending Criti…” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The U.S. ambassador to NATO renewed his country’s criticism of the Czech Republic on Friday, saying it had failed to spend enough on defense.
asserted
it → renew → defense
“It is disappointing to see that it has not made more progress towards meeting the Hague Defense Commitment,” Matthew Whitaker told a defense conference in Prague.
asserted
Whitaker → see → Prague
“Unfortunately, the Czech Republic is trending towards the bottom of the alliance when it comes to defense spending,” said Whitaker, who met with populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Friday.
asserted
who → trend → Friday
“There have been small successes, but more certainly needs to be done, and this has been a message I delivered yesterday and today in person to our friends here in the Czech Republic,” Whitaker added.
asserted
Whitaker → need → Republic
Lawmakers aligned with Babiš’ government approved a budget in March that allocates less than 1.8% of the country’s gross domestic product for defense this year.
asserted
that → align → defense
The approval came despite President Petr Pavel, a retired army general, urging an increase in the defense budget to meet NATO’s commitment.
asserted
Pavel → come → commitment
Whitaker warned the Czech Republic at the time in a post on X: “All Allies must pull their weight and honor The Hague Defense Commitment.
asserted
Allies → warn → Commitment
They are about meeting the moment — and the moment requires 5% as the standard.
asserted
moment → meet → standard
“
Responding on Friday, Babiš promised that defense spending would reach 2% of GDP next year.
asserted
spending → respond → GDP
NATO members agreed in 2014 to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, and the alliance expected all members — including the Czech Republic — to meet that target last year.
asserted
members → agree → target
At a summit in The Hague last year, NATO members, under pressure from the Trump administration, agreed to invest 3.5% of GDP on core defense requirements and an additional 1.5% on defense and security-related spending by 2035.
asserted
members → agree → 2035
Babiš returned to power after his ANO, or YES, movement won a decisive victory in an October election.
asserted
movement → return → election
It formed a governing coalition with two small political groups whose agenda includes reducing support for Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies.
asserted
agenda → form → policies
The Freedom and Direct Democracy party, which is anti-immigrant and a member of the coalition, wants to cut the defense budget for next year.
asserted
which → want → year
Finance Minister Alena Schillerová recently said she currently considers a 5% target to be “unrealistic.”
asserted
target → say → ?
“The United States remains committed to NATO and defending every inch of allied territory, and the United States is not stepping back,” Whitaker said on Friday.
asserted
Whitaker → commit → Friday
“But we expect our allies to step up and join us and equalize with the United States.”
asserted
allies → expect → States
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