Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč, the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Republic, recently made his first visit to the United States since assuming his current position. His two-day visit was marked by a series of engagements aimed at enhancing cooperation and understanding between the Czech Republic, NATO allies and U.S. major commands, particularly in the Hampton Roads Area.
During his visit, Lieutenant General Hlaváč met with key commands in the region, including NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, NATO’s Joint Forces Command Norfolk, Joint Staff Suffolk, and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, where Czech officers are based. At Joint Forces Command Norfolk, he received briefings on the main activities of the ongoing STEADFAST DEFENDER exercise, while also discussing potential future contributions of Czech subject matter experts.
At Allied Command Transformation, Lieutenant General Hlaváč engaged in a substantive discussion with Admiral Guy Robinson, the Chief of Staff, focusing on the command’s pivotal strategic projects. As NATO’s foremost warfare development command, Allied Command Transformation plays a crucial role in spearheading the strategic evolution of the Alliance’s military structures, forces, capabilities, and doctrines. The discussions underscored the critical importance of major initiatives such as the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept and Multi-Domain Operations. These projects not only enhance NATO’s operational effectiveness but also open avenues for expanded collaboration with Czech experts, highlighting the depth of cooperation between the Czech Republic and NATO.
As Lieutenant General Hlaváč stressed “cooperation between the Army of the Czech Republic [at Allied Command Transformation] and the armed forces of the United States has always been at a very high level.”
The visit also provided an opportunity for Lieutenant General Hlaváč to gain insights into the NATO and U.S. military environment. This was particular important in light of the Army of the Czech Republic’s recent completion of a new Modernization and Acquisition Defence Plan, Strategic Development Study to 2035, and Strategic Development Vision to 2040. These documents will guide the Czech military’s future development and cooperation within NATO.
Lieutenant General Hlaváč’s visit underscores the importance of dialogue and cooperation between NATO allies in addressing common security challenges. It also demonstrates the commitment of the Czech Republic to contributing to NATO’s collective security efforts and strengthening the transatlantic bond while focusing on collaboration, defence and deterrence of the Alliance.