The Czech government has agreed, under pressure from the country's Constitutional Court, to allow President Petr Pavel to attend next week's NATO summit in Türkiye, but has insisted he will not lead the national delegation.
The decision lays bare a growing political rift between the presidency and the government over defence spending, Ukraine policy and who represents the country at key international forums.
The Constitutional Court last week issued an injunction ordering the government to permit Pavel's participation, pending further deliberations. On Monday, officials confirmed they would comply, allowing the president to attend the summit in Türkiye on 7–8 July.
However, the government maintained that leadership of the delegation would remain with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, whose administration has taken a more cautious stance on defence commitments and military aid to Ukraine.
Presidents in the Czech political system do not set foreign policy but have traditionally led national delegations at NATO meetings since the country joined the alliance in 1999.
The dispute reflects deeper divisions over defence priorities. Pavel, a former army general and former chair of NATO's Military Committee, has been a vocal advocate of increased military spending and continued support for Ukraine.
By contrast, the populist government led by billionaire and Donald Trump supporter Babiš has resisted increasing defence spending and has declined to commit to Ukraine-related funding.
"The best would be if he does not insist on taking part," Babiš told reporters, adding that Pavel could instead attend next year's summit.
He also argued that leading the delegation would allow him to explain Czech policy positions, including the country's failure to meet NATO's 2% defence spending target last year.
The dispute comes ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, where 32 leaders are expected to gather on 7–8 July. Discussions are expected to focus on burden-sharing, defence spending commitments and wider alliance coordination.
The meeting also takes place against a backdrop of tensions involving U.S. criticism of allies over security responsibilities and strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Pavel has insisted he should be allowed to participate fully in the summit, including attending the leaders' dinner and plenary sessions, arguing that tradition and his role as head of state justify his involvement.
"The government should follow the custom to date until the court makes a ruling," he said. "The president as head of state should have the opportunity to represent… as the head of the delegation."
The Czech Republic is expected to fall short again of NATO's 2% defence spending target this year after cuts of around US$1 billion, with no clear roadmap yet to reach the alliance's 3.5% target by 2035.
The outcome of the dispute leaves uncertainty over who will formally represent Prague at one of NATO's most closely watched summits in recent years.
The United States has launched strikes on Iran late Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian state media reporting explosions heard in Bandar...
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the...
Russian air attacks have killed at least 12 people and injured several others in Kyiv and the surrounding region early on Tuesday, marking the sixt...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world for a celebration of traditional sports, cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
The United States has launched strikes on Iran late Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian state media reporting explosions heard in Bandar Abbas, on Qeshm Island, and other areas.
Russian air attacks have killed at least 12 people and injured several others in Kyiv and the surrounding region early on Tuesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of strikes on the Ukrainian capital.
China used this week's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to deepen ties across Central Asia, turning a largely symbolic multilateral gathering into a series of bilateral agreements and modest progress toward a long-discussed SCO Development Bank.
Türkiye has drawn up a plan to restore safe grain shipments through the Black Sea and is discussing the proposal with both Moscow and Kyiv, its foreign minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, with China, Russia, Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations among the key partners on Uzbekistan’s agenda.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment