The lower house of the Czech parliament approved legislation requiring state budgets to devote spending worth at least 2% of gross domestic product to defense starting next year.

European countries have accelerated their defense spending in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as many capitals have not yet met NATO’s 2%-of-GDP financing commitment.

In the 2023 budget, defense spending is planned at 1.52% of GDP.

The bill estimates that an extra 21.5 billion crowns (almost $1 billion) over the government’s mid-term fiscal outlook would be needed in the 2024 central state budget for the defense spending to reach the required level.

The Czech Republic, a NATO member since 1999, has sought to build up and modernize its armed forces after years of underspending, and after supplying hundreds of pieces of heavy military equipment to Ukraine over the past year.

The country signed in December a non-binding memorandum with Sweden for the delivery of more than 200 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. It has also been in negotiations with the United States to buy 24 F-35 jets.

However, the additional spending may complicate the center-right government’s efforts to cut the budget deficit by 70 billion crowns in 2024 from 295 billion crowns planned for this year.

The bill needs to be approved by the upper house of parliament and to be signed by the president to take effect.

Delivered by Czechtrade Team Canada.
Source: Reuters.