As a Brit, I agree too. Europe is incapable of defending an allied nation within our own continent from invasion. We need to do better.

The military capability of European nations have to improve so we can guarantee our own security and be a more equal partner in NATO rather than a junior partner to the US.

As an American, I've mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I think I think Europe owning it's own defense would be a solid move to ensure it's own sovereignty and independence as a modern nation.....thing.

On the other hand, I fear this could lead to US - EU military rivalry. While not necessarily the strongest bond in the world, I do value the relatively positive relationship the US and EU have. I hope that bond is preserved and hope we can grow even closer over time.

Yeah, if we stopped being the world's police we might have tax money for something else.

It benefits everyone to have distributed defense. Work together, but be able to have a basic level of your own defense is vital.

It also doesn't have access to nearly as many raw materials as the United States does.

I wish we'd all just calm down with the military spending, but I also understand when dealing with the USA it's probably safer to not rely on then(us) to keep their(our) word

I hope they have no competition to the F-35 because everyone’s been saying it’s a piece of shit for the last fifteen years.

The US loves killing brown people especially on behalf of other white people.

Are you even American? /s

He's not advocating Europe separate from the US, but become a military superpower in its own right by having as large a military as the US. I am sure both Petr Pavel and Joe Biden agree on enforcing the "rules-based international order".

To think that the EU suddenly wants to ditch the US because they see them as a burden/dangerous is wishful thinking. In fact the only countries willing to do that might be France, because the local bourgeois don't like to be limited by the US on pursuing their imperialist interests in Africa.

Do nothing and blame Germany

Well PESCO did get created. Denmark dropped their opt out from CSDP. Stuff like this moves slowly, specially upon there not being single hegemonic leader saying "We do this" and everyone else answering "Yes boss". EU is herding catch and it makes everything move slowly.

Yet on the other hand, he says EU should hurry up at expanding and integrate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and others.

I don't understand how expanding EU is contradicting the headline. Care to explain?

He's also called for more blanket surveillance of Russian passport holders in the West.

https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-president-ukraine-support-nato-summit/32460184.html

Becareful praising a strongman when he speaks against your enemies brashfully. Today he is your friend, tommorow you might find yourself amongst his list of enemies.