After the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, one of the major objectives of Czechia’s foreign policy was to join the Euro-Atlantic security community, namely to become a full NATO member. On the path to its membership, Czechia participated in the Partnership for Peace and joined NATO together with Poland and Hungary on 12 March 1999. The main reason for Czechia’s accession to NATO was to ensure the country’s external security. After joining NATO, Czechia has become a part of the strongest political-military organization in the world and thus achieved the highest level of security in its nation’s history. Czechia continues as a trusted and reliable ally in line with the obligations stemming from its NATO membership.

Czechia has been actively involved in implementing NATO’s decisions taken at the Wales Summit in September 2014 which responded to the worsening security situation in Europe. In this context, the Alliance adopted the so-called Readiness Action Plan which contains a package of assurance measures aimed at those members who feel threatened. Moreover, the Plan sets long-term changes in NATO’s force posture to respond to the worsening security environment. At the Warsaw NATO Summit in July 2016, the Alliance made further decisions to enhance its deterrence and defence capabilities, and it manifested its readiness to actively participate in promoting stability around the Alliance neighbourhood in the south and east. Within the framework of the EU-NATO cooperation, the organizations seek to strengthen their partnership in many areas including maritime security and countering hybrid threats.

We support the NATO policy of defence and deterrence based on a balanced combination of nuclear and conventional capabilities to counter current and future threats. Czechia also recognizes its share of responsibility for security in the Euro-Atlantic area by contributing to a more equitable cost-sharing on collective defence. In light of the above, we are committed to gradually increase our defence spending to 1.4% of GDP by 2020.

Czechia supports the development of NATO’s partnership with third countries and international organizations based on reciprocity, mutual benefit and pragmatism. With regard to new security challenges, in particular the use of hybrid warfare in the Alliance neighbourhood, we strive for closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union.

In the process of NATO enlargement, Czechia embraces further convergence of the three existing aspirant countries towards NATO - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Macedonia. In May 2016, Montenegro received the “invitee” status (the last step before becoming a full member) allowing its representatives to participate as observers in all allied meetings. The enlargement process is perceived as mutually beneficial - the accession of new members strengthens the element of collective defence, extends the stability zone and increases the Alliance’s capacity to respond to possible security crises.

In line with its capabilities and available resources, Czechia participates in NATO-led operations and missions, for example in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Since the mid-1990s, Czechia contributes to the stabilization of the Western Balkans region by participating in NATO military operations. Currently, Czechia is present in NATO and KFOR operations in Kosovo.

Czechia supports further development of the Alliance’s capabilities against new threats (e.g. energy and cyber security, combating terrorism). The development of NATO’s capability to counter hybrid threats with a blend of complex use of military, paramilitary and civilian methods is in this regard a key aspect.