The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is one of the most important military alliances in the world, established after the desolation of World War II. It’s an alliance-based security system of the modern world, still far from safe from the threats of war. The Czech Republic is, after all, not so far from the eastern frontline itself. As such, if things, god forbid, go to hell, can the Czech Republic rely on the NATO alliance? Is Czechia in NATO?
The Czech Republic and NATO
Yes, the Czech Republic is a part of NATO. It joined it in 1999, alongside Hungary and Poland. It’s one of the 31 (current) members, alongside its neighbouring Poland and Germany.
NATO membership of the Czech Republic
This means that, as per the well known Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, if the Czech Republic ever becomes a target of an attack, all NATO states are to provide military alliance to the attacked member. This also goes the other way, and so the Czech Republic has to aid its allies too. It also means that soldiers from other alliance countries can be stationed on its territory and receive military technological support and training from better developed countries.
The public of the Czech Republic, though well aware of the importance of the military forces, have had a strugglesome relationship with the NATO ascension, doubting the influence of the public on security matters. RAND notes that one major reason for this is that the public was not incorporated into the debate about the ascension – there was no referendum and no proper discussion about the costs of this alliance. Still, the Czech public is strongly supportive of NATO overall and is aware of the value of such an alliance.
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