The Czech government has decided not to include President Petr Pavel in the delegation for the NATO summit in July.

The government in Prague announced that President Petr Pavel will not be part of the Czech delegation at the NATO summit on July 7-8, a decision that goes against tradition and could generate a legal conflict between Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Pavel, a former general and head of NATO's military committee. Pavel, who won the presidential elections in 2023, requested to attend the meeting, holding a pro-Ukraine position, in contrast to Babis's government, which has reduced aid to Ukraine. The Prime Minister justified the decision by the responsibility to defend the government's position, including by allocating smaller funds for national defense.

According to the Constitution, foreign policy is established by the government, but presidents have usually led delegations at NATO summits. Pavel announced that he will contest his exclusion in the Constitutional Court, considering it a restriction of his powers. The Czech Republic allocates less than 2% of GDP for defense, and the new government has reduced the military budget, contrary to NATO commitments to increase spending.