79. Czechia is one of the world’s most developed economies. Experience of totalitarian rule and transition to democracy is part of our identity. Timely humanitarian aid, targeted development and transition cooperation, and consistent human rights advocacy are elements of our bilateral as well as multilateral diplomacy. All of this makes up our key role in international relations and contributes to the good name of Czechia as a country that has shouldered its share of responsibility for the future of the world. b. Czechia’s defence and the tasks of our armed forces 80. The keystone of our defence is NATO’s collective defence system and our active engagement in it. We contribute to the collective defence capabilities of the Alliance. We systematically build the national capabilities that enable our armed forces to take part in NATO deterrence activities and in the planning and conduct of collective defence operations. We maintain and develop our capability to deploy forces on NATO, EU, UN, and coalition-led crisis management operations, including post-crisis operations, stabilization operations, capacity building operations, counterterrorism operations, and humanitarian operations. 81. 82. In situations of an attack on the Czech Republic and in situations that trigger the collective defence commitment, the core task for our armed forces would be to conduct, in cooperation with our allies, a prolonged high-intensity military conflict against a technologically advanced adversary both within and outside Czechia’s territory. Our State and society as a whole must prepare for that. In addition, Czechia builds its capability to independently deploy our armed forces outside our territory on rescue operations or operations to evacuate our nationals from vulnerable regions. In exceptional cases, Czech Army capacities may be deployed in Czechia to deal with natural disasters, industrial accidents, and other emergencies, provided that the deployment does not impair our defence capability. Building defence capabilities 83. 28 To be fit for these tasks, the Czech Army must be a combined forces army: a combination of robust capabilities and heavy military equipment with advanced technological capabilities, including efficient utilization of emerging and disruptive technologies. 84. Participation in the collective defence system does not relieve Czechia of its responsibility to develop the capabilities necessary for the defence of our own territory. Our national arrangements include, most importantly, air defence capabilities, protection of critical infrastructure, and defence against hybrid interference including cyber threats, manipulative information campaigns, and attempts to influence or paralyze our decision-making processes. Czechia has bolstered the defence and safeguarding arms of its intelligence services in order to implement the arrangements for defence against hybrid interference and to ensure timely identification of strategic threats. 85. Another important defence task is to maintain a complete and reliable national system of support for the Alliance’s collective deterrence and defence operations in our territory. The question of military mobility, including support for the movements of allied armed forces in our territory, becomes highly relevant because of our geographical position within the NATO area. Some aspects of military mobility are outside the Defence Ministry’s remit and require the cooperation of other bodies of the State and public administration. 86. Czechia continuously modernizes the equipment used by its armed forces. We acquire and maintain sufficient stocks of ammunition, spare parts, fuel, and other material necessary in a prolonged high-intensity conflict. 87. Czechia’s defence system has combat deployment capability, including the necessary manpower and material mobilization capability. We continue to develop all the requisite elements. We build our defence capabilities in each operational domain—on land, in the air, in cyber space and outer space— with an emphasis on interoperability in defence and military operations. We develop our national deterrence capabilities, and we contribute to the Alliance’s deterrence policy combining conventional and nuclear capabilities. Czechia will remain an active participant in NATO’s nuclear policy and planning. We will contribute to the Alliance’s nuclear deterrence as a non-nuclear ally. Defence resources and the role of industry 88. To sustain our defence capability and active role in the collective defence system, we need sufficient financial resources. Czechia increases its defence spending in accordance with our national needs, NATO commitments and solidarity with allies. Our defence budget will reach the 2 percent of GDP goal by 2024, and it will remain at or above this level thereafter. The 2 percent of GDP threshold is safeguarded in national legislation. In fact, Czechia may yet have to spend much more in order to meet its defence needs in the years to come. 29