The Czech government has approved a strategic plan to incrementally increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, reacting to escalating global security instability. In 2025, defense expenditures will be maintained at 2% of GDP, amounting to 154.4 billion CZK (approximately 6.7 billion USD), supplemented by a reallocation of 6.4 billion CZK (about 278 million USD) from other ministries. This initiative, spearheaded by Defense Minister Jana Černochová, is aligned with NATO’s commitment for member states to allocate at least 2% of GDP for defense, a benchmark she argues is insufficient for current conditions. The focus of this budget increase will be on modernizing and strengthening the Czech Armed Forces through acquisitions of advanced military equipment, including F-35A Lightning II fighters, CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles, and C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, alongside plans to procure Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. This strategic shift emphasizes the Czech Republic’s commitment to enhancing its military capabilities to meet contemporary security challenges.
