Defence Ministry rejects speculation over U.S. trip

The Ministry of Defence has denied media reports that Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (SPD) deliberately blocked a planned official trip by Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka to the United States. According to the ministry, the minister designated the first deputy chief of the General Staff to represent Czechia on the given trip in view of the meetings and relevant competences required for the talks. The news site Respekt.cz wrote that part of the army’s leadership interprets the decision as retaliation by Zůna after Řehka questioned the minister’s claims regarding L-159 aircraft for Ukraine.