Czech Army Chief Backs Ukraine's NATO Membership

Ukraine should become a NATO member, Czech Chief of General Staff Karel Rehka said at the GLOBSEC security forum in Prague, according to Politico. "Ukraine is not just a security consumer, it’s also a security provider", he said.

Rehka called the prospect a "logical step", while acknowledging that Kyiv's entry into the alliance requires political consensus that does not yet exist.

Ukraine has long sought NATO membership but has faced opposition from a number of states, including Germany and the United States. Several observers say the return of Donald Trump to the White House has further sidelined the issue.

Rehka also called for a significant increase in Czech defense spending above 2% of GDP, warning that without higher investment it would be impossible to meet plans for modernizing the army, air defense and support for the domestic defense industry.

Defense spending is a contentious issue in the Czech Republic. Prime Minister Andrej Babis had argued for capping military budget growth at 1.8% of GDP, but Prague has since committed within NATO to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

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