Poll: 63% of Czechs Back Reinstating Compulsory Military Service
In the Globsec Trends 2026 survey, 63% of Czechs support bringing back compulsory military service, yet only 24% consider their country ready for a major security crisis or war.
Almost two thirds of people in the Czech Republic want compulsory military service to return, according to the international Globsec Trends 2026 survey, which covered 14 countries in Europe and North America. At the same time, only 24% of Czechs believe their country is prepared for a large-scale security crisis or war. The findings were reported by the Ukrainian outlet European Pravda, citing the Czech agency Ceske Noviny.
Support for service and willingness to defend
Reinstating compulsory service is backed by 63% of Czech respondents, while 55% said they would be ready to defend the country personally in the event of an armed attack. The study's authors note that support for conscription in Czechia exceeds the share of those willing to take up arms themselves. A similar gap was recorded in Germany, France and Slovakia.
The Czech Republic is among the countries where citizens have the least confidence in their state's ability to withstand threats. Only Slovakia (19%), Bulgaria (20%) and Hungary (22%) scored lower. By comparison, 64% of people in the United States say their country is ready for a crisis, as do 55% in Ukraine.
Defence spending
Concern about war also shapes Czech attitudes toward funding defence. Higher military spending is approved by 54% of respondents, and 42% would accept it even if funding for healthcare or social programmes were cut. The Czech army is trusted by 70% of those surveyed.
Survey methodology
The poll was conducted by the company HarrisX from 11 to 19 May 2026 using online panels. In the Czech Republic, 1,010 respondents took part.
It was previously reported that 71% of Europeans would like the European Union to have its own army, pointing to growing concern about the reliability of the United States and deep divisions over Russia's war in Ukraine. Another survey found that 56% of Europeans believe the continent's future is "under threat".
