NATO membership in in Czech existential interest - Czech PM Babis

The NATO membership is in the Czech Republic's existential interest and the Alliance should focus on fighting terrorism now more than ever as it poses the major threat, Czech PM Andrej Babis said at the conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Czech accession to NATO today. "The history of the 20th century showed us that a country of our size cannot defend itself alone. This is why it is in our existential interest to be a member of this defence alliance," Babis said. He added that being a NATO member meant that the Czech Republic was a reliable partner honoring the principles of freedom and democracy, whom its partners were ready to support.