Government approves army concept, Pavel calls it…

Government approves army concept, Pavel calls it insufficient

03.11.2026 11:01 HotInfo

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's government approved the Concept for the Development of the Czech Army until 2040 on Monday. President Petr Pavel, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, also attended the meeting. According to Babiš, the number of soldiers is to grow by at least three thousand each year. novinky.cz ↗

After the meeting, Pavel stated that the proposed concept would not ensure the fulfillment of the Czech Republic's allied commitments to NATO. He also considers its insufficient readiness for a higher-intensity conflict to be a problem. At the same time, the president called the document unrealistic and said that, in his view, the army might not be able to intervene in a full-intensity conflict. novinky.cz ↗

The president attended the government meeting because of security topics which, in his view, will fundamentally affect the country's security. He did not comment on the outcome of the meeting before leaving the office and said that the prime minister would present the cabinet's decision. The government subsequently approved the concept. ct24.ceskatelevize.cz ↗

However, the approval of the document did not end the tension between Babiš and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna. Generals also joined the discussion, pointing out problems associated with the new army development plan. Details of their objections were not disclosed. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗

Further developments will concern the implementation of the approved concept, the growth in the number of soldiers, and the army's ability to fulfill its commitments to allies. At the same time, Pavel's criticism shows that differing views on the future shape of Czech defense persist between the president and the government.