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Summary for: Rubio praises Czech ties, highlights NATO spending pledge in holiday messageU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Czechia on its national holiday Wednesday, praising the country as a capable and trusted security partner while highlighting its commitment to increased NATO spending.
The message marked the 108th anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s founding on Oct. 28, 1918. Rubio said the two countries shared a dedication to prosperity, freedom of speech, liberty and national sovereignty.
He also welcomed cooperation on energy security and growing commercial ties between Czech and American businesses.
Defense investment features in anniversary message
“Both our nations are committed to a strong NATO, which will require increased investment over the next decade for every ally to meet the Hague commitment,” Rubio said in a statement published by the U.S. State Department.
His remarks referred to the spending agreement endorsed by NATO leaders at their June 2025 summit in The Hague.
Under that commitment, allies aim to spend 3.5 percent of gross domestic product on core defense requirements by 2035. A further 1.5 percent is intended for broader security-related investment, including infrastructure, resilience and cybersecurity.
The combined commitment represents a substantial increase from NATO’s previous defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP.
Czechia plans to allocate 2 percent of GDP to defense next year. The higher Hague targets have a 2035 deadline, rather than requiring countries to reach those levels immediately.
Security, energy and business ties
Rubio’s message combined recognition of the bilateral relationship with Washington’s continuing emphasis on European allies taking greater responsibility for their own security.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed European NATO members to increase defense spending. Before last year’s summit, he threatened not to protect allies that failed to meet the previous spending target.
The anniversary statement described Czechia as a trusted partner and pointed to cooperation extending beyond military affairs, particularly energy security and business relationships.
Rubio congratulated the Czech people on the anniversary of the independent state’s establishment in 1918, which is celebrated annually as one of Czechia’s principal national holidays.
His reference to the Hague agreement placed future investment alongside that recognition of longstanding ties, emphasizing that maintaining a strong alliance would require additional resources in the years ahead.
