Babiš and Pavel discuss NATO response to Russian attack threat

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and President Petr Pavel met this week to discuss Czechia's possible response if Russia were to attack one of the Baltic states. The issue will be taken up at the next meeting of the State Security Council on October 20, Babiš said after the talks with the president.

According to the prime minister, there is no direct threat to Czechia at the moment, but the authorities are aware of the growing risk of a Russian attack — something NATO officials and intelligence services have been discussing more and more openly in recent months. “We talked about this last time, and this time we spoke very specifically. And of course, we are preparing,” Babiš said.

Article 5 and two brigades

The prime minister confirmed that Czechia will fulfil Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty on collective defence. “God forbid, if Russia attacked one of the Baltic countries, under Article 5 we would be obliged to send two of our mechanised brigades. Of course, we would be ready to act,” Babiš said. President Pavel called the prime minister's unequivocal stance important and stressed that Czechia intends to meet its obligations to NATO.

Pavel also noted that the government continues to share information with partners about hybrid threats, attacks and other actions — above all from Russia. According to him, the Kremlin keeps trying to destabilise the situation in NATO countries and weaken their support for Ukraine, which is fighting off the Russian invasion.

Intelligence warning

The head of the Czech security service BIS, Michal Koudelka, recently spoke about the rising danger in an interview with The Guardian. According to him, a possible Russian attack — including a limited incursion into the territory of one of the alliance's members — could happen within just a few months.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz