The Czech authorities announced plans to increase the military budget by “billions of crowns”

Against the background of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine, the Czech government announced plans to significantly increase the budget of the Ministry of Defense. According to CzechRadio with reference to Jan Bartoszek, vice-speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, this will be done already this year.

A significant increase in military spending is also approved by Finance Minister Zbynek Staniura and Defense Minister of the Czech Republic Yana Chernokhova. According to Bartoszek, we are talking about “billions of crowns” that will be used for new weapons, ammunition and spare parts for military equipment. Corresponding changes to the state budget, he specified, will be introduced in the first half of this year.

Zbynek Staniura supported his colleague, saying that the increase in defense spending is a settled issue. In turn, the head of the Czech Defense Ministry, Yana Chernokhova, specified that the budget would be increased when government members worked out specific proposals.

Earlier it was reported that the EU plans to increase defense spending. According to the draft declaration for the EU summit, Brussels wants to achieve greater independence from the US in matters of security. In the period up to 2027, more than $13 billion euros, or 1.2% of the entire budget of the union, will be allocated for this purpose.

In turn, the leader of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, also called on the EU to create its own rapid reaction force of 5,000 troops in order to reduce dependence on the States. However, NATO fears that such a measure will lead to a “split” in Europe.