The Czech Foreign Minister called the president's plan to attend the NATO summit a publicity stunt

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Matinka criticized President Petr Pavel’s plans to attend the NATO summit in Ankara, calling it a move aimed at boosting his re-election campaign. The head of the Foreign Ministry believes that Prime Minister Andrej Babiš should represent the country at the summit. 

This was reported by Radio Prague International.

The foreign minister emphasized that the head of government is best positioned to explain Prague’s defense spending situation to NATO partners. Matinka expressed surprise at the president’s “obsession” with attending the event and questioned his qualifications as a political representative. According to the minister, the NATO summit is a high-level political event, not a gathering of retired military personnel, alluding to Pavel’s past service as commander of Alliance forces.

Against the backdrop of internal political debate in the Czech Republic, the issue of the country’s representation on the international stage is becoming increasingly acute as elections approach. Despite disagreements within the government, the Czech Republic continues to support NATO’s joint efforts to deter Russian aggression. The dispute over the visit to Ankara highlights the rivalry between the institutions of the president and the prime minister. At present, the official decision on who will lead the Czech delegation at the summit remains under discussion. Thus, domestic political processes directly influence the country’s foreign policy activities.

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