Survey: Clear Majority Want to Defend the Czech Republic’s Sovereignty at Any Cost

A recent survey by the Centrum pro výzkum veřejného mínění (CVVM) shows that support for defending the Czech Republic remains very high among the public – yet doubts about the country’s actual defence capability persist.

The survey was conducted in the second half of January 2026. It focused on questions concerning the defence of state sovereignty, the country’s ability to decide independently on its security, and the assessment of the national armed forces.

Broad Support for the Defence of Sovereignty

A clear majority of respondents support defending their country: 92 per cent believe that sovereignty must be defended under all circumstances. This stance has enjoyed broad backing for years.

At the same time, however, more than half of those surveyed (56 per cent) express doubts that the country could successfully defend itself in the event of an emergency. The discrepancy between fundamental determination and practical confidence therefore remains.

Foto: Ministerstvo obrany a Armáda České republiky

Greater Confidence in the Army

Compared with last year, confidence in the army’s capabilities has increased. Almost half of the population (49 per cent) believe that the armed forces are on a comparable level to those of Western countries. Forty-one per cent disagree, while ten per cent said they were unable to assess the question.

In addition, scepticism towards defence spending and the country’s ability to make independent decisions has declined. While 29 per cent regard defence expenditure as an unnecessary burden on the state budget, 65 per cent explicitly reject this view.

Independence Versus the Influence of Major Powers

The question of the influence of major powers also reveals a nuanced picture. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents consider national defence considerations to be less significant, as they believe smaller states ultimately depend on the actions of major powers. However, a majority of 58 per cent disagree with this assessment and are convinced that their own defence policy is indeed significant.