Czech Army Falls Short of NATO Targets as Strategy Admits Slow Fix
Prague’s new army strategy says Czechia misses 70% of NATO capability targets and lags 5 to 10 years on the costliest ones. Spending stays at 2% of GDP through 2029.
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Czechia’s army is short of personnel and materials and is missing NATO capability targets, a new army development strategy shows. The document was released on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and Reuters reported that improvement will be slow.
The government approved the strategy on Monday. It says the security environment is worsening and a Russian attack on NATO and EU countries is increasingly likely.
A Deficit Against Alliance Goals
The strategy says Czechia is “not meeting 70% of NATO capability targets buildup.” On the most resource-intensive goals, it lags “by 5 to 10 years.”
“This deficit limits the Czech army’s ability to meet collective defence tasks,” it said.
The strategy calls for about 32,000 soldiers, up from roughly 26,000 now. It also seeks more air and anti-drone defence, faster technological adaptation and stronger territorial defence.
Spending Stays at 2% Until 2029
Czechia has spent under NATO’s 2% of GDP minimum on defence in recent years. The government plans no increase beyond 2% in 2027–2029.
The Baltic states, Poland and Germany have been boosting spending in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Other European governments face budget strain from the NATO spending surge.
NATO agreed last year to raise core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, plus 1.5% on infrastructure, by 2035. The Czech plan foresees the rise to 3.5% only in 2030–2035.
Until 2030, funding goes almost exclusively to approved projects. These include 24 F-35 fighters, Leopard tanks and short- to medium-range air defence.
The strategy says this slows the buildup of a medium brigade, unmanned systems and anti-drone defence.
Criticism From Pavel and Washington
President Petr Pavel, a former general and NATO official, criticised the outlook as insufficient. He spoke to reporters in a live television briefing on Monday. He said the strategy “does not meet these fundamental aims even in this relatively long horizon.”
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government has faced criticism on defence spending since taking power. That includes US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, who said in September it was disappointing not to see more progress.
Babiš said on Monday that his priority was recruiting troops faster and focusing on air and anti-drone defence.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
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