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

The Czech Republic has been actively involved in implementing NATO’s decisions taken at the Wales Summit in September 2014 which responded to 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 of NATO’s force posture to respond to the worsening security environment. At 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. The Czech Republic 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.

The Czech Republic supports the development of NATO’s partnership with third countries and international organizations on the basis of 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, the Czech Republic 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, the Czech Republic participates in NATO-led operations and missions, for example in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Since mid-1990s, the Czech Republic contributes to the stabilization of the Western Balkans region by participating in NATO military operations. Currently, the Czech Republic is present in NATO and KFOR operations in Kosovo.

The Czech Republic 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 a complex use of military, paramilitary and civilian methods is in this regard a key aspect.