Secretary General praises the Czech Republic’s commitment to NATO
Meeting the Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Thursday (22 March 2018), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked the Prime Minister for the Czech Republic’s strong contributions to the Alliance.
The Secretary General highlighted that NATO has stepped up its efforts to project stability beyond Allied borders and contribute to the fight against terrorism. He welcomed the Czech Republic’s contribution to the Alliance’s mission in Afghanistan, as well as efforts to strengthen the Iraqi Armed Forces’ ability to fight terrorism.
The Secretary General also thanked Prime Minister Babiš for his country’s contribution to NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Lithuania. “The NATO battlegroups in the Baltic States and Poland are a strong expression of NATO solidarity,” said the Secretary General.
Mr. Stoltenberg underscored that NATO wants a meaningful dialogue with Russia, but cannot ignore violations of international rules. “Earlier this month we saw a chemical attack in the United Kingdom. It was the first offensive use of a nerve agent on Alliance territory. NATO Allies are united in condemning this attack”, he stressed.
The Secretary General noted that this attack was a sad reminder of the value of the Czech Republic’s leading role in countering chemical, biological and nuclear threats. He added that the CBRN Centre of Excellence in the Czech Republic is a unique venue to share experience, technology and best practices.
Mr. Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Babiš also discussed NATO Allies’ efforts to increase defence spending. The Secretary General welcomed the Czech Republic’s efforts to meet its commitments and the country’s clear plan to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2024.