Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army Karel Rehka said that the Czech Republic was a participant in the conflict between the RF and NATO from the beginning

438

PRAGUE - Karel Rehka stressed that Russia poses a direct and serious threat to Europe. In view of this fact, he said, it is necessary to increase the defence capabilities of the Czech army. The current defence spending of two per cent of GDP is insufficient to cover the new tasks the Czech Republic has received from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Řehka therefore proposes increasing the defence budget to three per cent of GDP to enable the country to fully contribute to collective defence and meet its alliance commitments.

Defence Minister Jana Černochová agrees that the 2% defence spending should be considered a minimum, not a ceiling. She stressed that in order to effectively deter a potential aggressor, it is necessary to have strong defence capabilities and a clear determination to use them if necessary. However, the army has long faced personnel shortages, making it difficult to meet these objectives.

Rehka also warned of a possible conflict between Russia and NATO, which cannot be ruled out. He pointed out that in the event of such a conflict, the Czech Republic would be a participant from the outset, which would require not only the deployment of a professional army, but also the involvement of the entire society and possible mobilisation.

In order to cope with new crises and threats, according to Řehka, a change in the mindset of the entire society is necessary. Preparation for crisis situations must be long-term and consistent, which requires the cooperation not only of the army, but also of other parts of the state and the public. At the same time, the army faces problems in the area of personnel and resources, which complicates its ability to respond effectively to new challenges.

In summary, the leadership of the Czech army and the Ministry of Defence stresses the need to strengthen defence capabilities and increase defence spending in response to the growing threat from Russia and new commitments to NATO.

gnews.cz-jav / photo: czdefence.cz