Czech Republic would be ready to respond if Russia attacks Baltic countries, Czech PM Babis says

Babis, whose government includes a pro-Russian party, has halted Czech contributions to military aid to Ukraine and also opted out of EU and NATO financing and military aid pledges for Kyiv.

The Czech Republic would be ready to honor its NATO commitments in the event of a Russian attack on a Baltic country, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis told a Czech news website on Tuesday.

Babis, whose government includes a pro-Russian anti-immigrant party, has halted Czech contributions to military aid for Ukraine and also opted out of EU and NATO financing and military aid pledges for Kyiv.

He has repeatedly spoken about the need for European leaders to promote peace, and was criticized in a presidential campaign in 2023 for saying he would not send Czech soldiers to fight for allies.

When asked by www.denik.cz whether Prague was preparing for the possibility of Russian action against NATO, a possibility raised by some NATO members' secret services, Babis said he was discussing security challenges, including with Czech President Petr Pavel.

"The fact that we do not talk about it and journalists don't get fodder for their articles does not mean we don't address it," Babis said in the video interview.

"Of course we are preparing. If, God forbid, Russia were to attack a Baltic state, then, under Article 5 (NATO members' mutual defense commitment), we have to send two of our mechanized brigades," he said.

"Of course we would be active, and we talk about it, but I don't see a reason to share classified information."

Growing likelihood of Russia attacking European NATO countries

Western European governments and intelligence services have said there is a growing likelihood of Russia stepping up hybrid attacks such as sabotage or even launching a limited military attack.

Babis said this month, without giving details, that Russia was waging a hybrid war against the Czech Republic, and that intelligence services were giving it maximum attention.

Moscow has repeatedly denied plotting any confrontation, or involvement in hybrid warfare or the increasingly frequent sabotage operations plaguing European NATO countries.