January 16, 2010: The Czech Republic has budget problems (the global recession) and is cutting defense spending. This is leading to personnel cuts, which is pretty desperate, as the government is keen to keep employment up. The military has a strength of 35,000, but 1,728 of those positions are unfilled. These unfilled jobs are being eliminated, and 2,731 people will lose their jobs.

While not a major military power, the Czech Republic is a contributor to peacekeeping operations, and plans to maintain these. The Czechs ultimately rely on their military treaties, particularly membership in NATO, for national defense. Thus the willingness to keep peacekeepers overseas, and to cooperate in any way they can afford, with their NATO allies. In support of this, the military is going through with purchases of new twin engine air transports and wheeled armored vehicles.