Czech cabinet blocks President Pavel from July NATO summit
What's next: Pavel has threatened to go to the Constitutional Court as the dispute exposes Prague's split over defense spending and Ukraine.
The Czech government has barred President Petr Pavel from joining the country's delegation to NATO's July 7-8 summit in Ankara, breaking with a long-standing practice in which Czech presidents attend alliance meetings. Prime Minister Andrej Babis argued the cabinet, not the head of state, must present the country's position, including its stance on low military spending. Pavel, a former Czech army chief and ex-chair of NATO's military committee, has insisted he should take part and has warned he could challenge the move in the Constitutional Court. The clash also highlights a wider political divide: Pavel has strongly backed Ukraine against Russia, while Babis' government has reduced support and cut defense spending below NATO's 2% target again this year.