Czech Republic lagging behind in defence - chief of staff

The Czech Republic is lagging behind in defence both compared to its allies and enemies and its military needs upgrading, Chief of Staff Ales Opata told a conference on Tuesday. The money spent on the military is not wasted, but is an investment in securing the country's defence, he said. Another strategic shock after the coronavirus pandemic might be if European countries had to defend against an attack themselves without US assistance, he noted. Opata pointed to the rise in the military budget along with the rising public trust in the army.