Czech soldiers in the Pentagon? Černochová negotiates with Americans on deal
Czechia and the United States are moving toward closer military cooperation. The two are discussing the possibility of Czech liaison officers serving on US bases. The timeline remains unclear but the US Department of Defense has already issued a directive that the Czech side intends to follow.
The US Army Training and Doctrine Command in Virginia is one of many command and control centers for the US Armed Forces.
In 2001, the late long-serving First Deputy Chief of Staff Jaromír Zúna, now retired, became a liaison officer there. It was the first time a Czech soldier had held such a position in the United States.
Liaison officers play a key role in ensuring smooth cooperation and communication between allied armies.
After Zúna finished her role, others embarked on similar missions of their own. Currently, liaison officers serve at three different US military commands. One example is a liaison officer at Special Operations Command in Florida, which would coordinate the actions of elite soldiers.
The involvement of Czech soldiers in key structures of the US military will be significantly expanded. The Ministry of Defense has already prepared a document that will guide negotiations for the agreement.
The end of one-off agreements
“The proposed new memorandum of agreement will enable the deployment of Czech liaison officers to all commands of the US Armed Forces,” described Simona Cigánková from the Press Department of the Ministry of Defense, highlighting the main benefit of the future agreement.
Currently, due to the missions of Czech soldiers at various commands, a special agreement had to be negotiated each time. This will be eliminated with the new convention.
Czech soldiers will have open access to all US Army control centers, including the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon.
“Given that many organizational elements of the US military structure are located in the administrative building near Washington, DC, the possibility of assigning a Czech liaison officer there also exists,” confirmed defense spokeswoman Cigánková.
A structure beyond imagination
"We're talking about a structure that's incredibly vast, something no one could imagine in our country. Moreover, there are various management levels, from strategic to operational. The US has 750 bases in 80 countries," explained Lieutenant General Zúna.
The most recent agreement was signed in Washington on January 30 last year, allowing Czechia to station a representative at a key location in the US military hierarchy: the US Joint Staff, which represents the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
"Liaison officers enable closer coordination, greater interoperability, and stronger bilateral defense relations. We are optimistic that this will continue to expand, enhancing the security relationship between the US and Czechia, including through liaison positions," a US Embassy spokesperson in Prague told the editorial board regarding the new convention.
The forthcoming agreement will outline the duties of Czech officers, the financial aspects of their work, and security protocols, as well as establish rules for safeguarding transferred information.
“Technical and administrative matters, disciplinary issues related to liaison officers and their dependents, and how to resolve claims for compensation,” the directive for negotiations on the memorandum further specifies.
A three-year assignment
Lieutenant General Zúna highlights the context in which this agreement is being prepared. This year continues payments that began last year for the contract to deliver 24 US F-35s.
“This is part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation with the US military in the technical and armament sectors,” he said.
The first draft of the new Memorandum of Agreement was submitted by the US side in July 2024, six months after both parties signed the contract for the F-35s.
Under the new agreement, Czech liaison officers will typically be assigned to individual commands for a period of three years.
"The Ministry of Defense aims to finalize the Memorandum of Agreement as soon as possible. The exact timing will depend on the parties' ability to agree on a mutually beneficial text and the approval processes in both countries," said defense spokeswoman Cigánková, when asked about the expected timeline for the convention’s signing.
