On 21-23 November 2023, NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Rob Bauer visited Czechia, meeting with Czechia’s President and Deputy Minister of Defence, as well as other senior political and military authorities. The visit focused on the security situation in the region and the importance of national resilience for NATO’s Euro-Atlantic security. Bauer emphasised that NATO will continue to ensure all its Allies remain safe from any threat and that national resilience is an essential basis for credible collective deterrence and defence.

During a working lunch with Czechia’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr. Daniel Blažkovec, the Chair praised Czechia’s continued advancement in its defence capabilities, highlighting the importance of this for NATO’s collective defence. He also praised Czechia for its remarkable support it has been providing to Ukraine.

At the CEVRO Institute, the Chair conveyed a strong message of resolve and unity, stating that NATO is undergoing unprecedented change at an unprecedented pace. He emphasised the importance of building on strong ties between Allies and harvesting centuries of military expertise.

During his visit to Prague, Admiral Bauer thanked the former Chair of the NATO Military Committee for his personal commitment to the Alliance and praised Czechia for being a longstanding staunch NATO Ally. He also expressed gratitude for the Czech Parliament’s leadership endeavour to spend 2% of its GDP on defence next year.

Czechia holds strategic significance within NATO, contributing to the alliance’s collective defense and stability in Eastern Europe. As a committed NATO member, Czechia provides military capabilities, hosts alliance exercises, and actively engages in regional security initiatives. Its geographic location and military infrastructure bolster NATO’s eastern flank, enhancing the alliance’s ability to respond to evolving security challenges.

The country has a military industry which provides not only its own army with crucial weapons systems, but has also been providing with heavy weapons since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.