This amount is €974 billion more than it was in 2022
PRAGUE, June 27. /tass/. In 2023, the Czech Republic will allocate 112 billion crowns (about €4.74 billion) for defense, which is 23 billion crowns (about €974 billion) more than it was last year. This was announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister of the Republic Petr Fiala at a joint press conference with the head of the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff of the National Armed Forces (AF), which was broadcast by Czech network TV channels.
"112 billion kronor will be spent on defense this year, which is 23 billion kronor more than it was last year," Fiala said. He recalled that the government recently approved the purchase of 246 Swedish CV-90 IFVs for 59.7 billion kronor (€2.5 billion) for the national Armed Forces.
The Defense Ministry, as the Prime Minister said, has begun negotiations with Germany on the joint purchase of tanks. The Czech defense industry will be involved in the implementation of this project.
"The fundamental point is the modernization of [military] aviation. That is why we are negotiating with the United States on the purchase of the most modern multifunctional F-35 aircraft," the head of government said.
Development of the defense industry
By implementing projects in the field of defense, the authorities, according to the Prime minister, support the national military-industrial complex. The defense industry is maximally involved in their implementation, which "increases its competitiveness in the international arms market."
The Czech Republic recently concluded a defense agreement with the United States, which, according to Fiala, will significantly increase the republic's defense capability. The document, the analogues of which were signed earlier by all the neighbors of the Czech Republic, will soon be submitted to the Parliament for approval.
Compensation for assistance to Ukraine
Fiala said that the actions of the republic, which quickly transferred outdated military equipment to Ukraine after the outbreak of the military conflict in that country, which was in army warehouses, were highly appreciated by the allied states in Euro-Atlantic structures. "They assessed it with concrete steps. The USA, for example, gave us 2.7 billion crowns (approximately €114.3 million - approx. TASS) for the modernization of our army and then another 4.4 billion crowns (about €186.3 million - approx. TASS). At the same time, the republic received eight helicopters. I should also remind you about a significant gift from Germany - 15 Leopard tanks," Fiala said.
He informed that from January to May of this year, the Czech Republic provided Ukraine with 24 tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, 16 special vehicles for air defense, 57 thousand artillery shells and 645 anti-tank guided missiles. In addition, other types of military assistance were provided to Ukraine.
It was reported at the press conference that a new Czech defense strategy is being developed, which takes into account the experience of the conflict in Ukraine. It is expected that it will be submitted for government approval in September. "Our joint goal is a strong modern army. We understand that the security of the Czech Republic and its defense are so important," Fiala said.
