Passers-by on the Charles Bridge in Prague. File photoPRAGUE, Apr 22 Czech Defense Minister Yana Chernokhova, who arrived in Washington on an official visit on Thursday, and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin confirmed their mutual interest in concluding a military cooperation agreement, Czech TV reported, citing sources in Czech delegation. «The heads of the US and Czech Defense Departments confirmed their intention to conclude a military cooperation agreement between both countries (Defense Cooperation Agreement), which Washington has with most other NATO member states. But, unlike them, the Prague-Washington agreement will carry more general, in particular, without mentioning the exact number of American troops sent to the Czech Republic. In addition, it will not say about the creation of a US base in the Czech Republic, «the report says. During the talks, the ministers also signed an agreement on cooperation between defense industries of both countries. In addition, the heads of the Ministry of Defense touched upon the possibility of supplies to the Czech Republic from the US And fighters and helicopters, as well as other issues related to the modernization of the Czech army. Chernokhova also confirmed the intention of the Czech government to bring the defense budget to the 2% of GDP required by NATO by 2025. Much attention at the Pentagon talks, according to Czech TV, was paid to the situation in Ukraine and military assistance to this country.
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