Czech president to attend NATO summit in Ankara

Czech President Petr Pavel is expected to attend the upcoming NATO summer summit in Ankara. 

Presidential spokesperson Vít Kolář said the Czech Republic will be represented by a high-level delegation that also includes Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka. Officials from both the presidential office and the government are currently exploring the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Pavel and Babiš on the sidelines of the summit, depending on their schedules, Caliber.Az reports per Czech media. 

Pavel’s attendance had previously been uncertain amid reported disagreements with Macinka and tensions surrounding the appointment of the country’s environment minister. In March, Babiš suggested that the government was better positioned than the president to explain the Czech Republic’s defense spending commitments to NATO allies, including the United States.

Despite the earlier uncertainty, Pavel has maintained a consistent presence at NATO gatherings since taking office, having attended summits in Vilnius in 2023, Washington in 2024, and The Hague in 2025.

By Sabina Mammadli