General Hlaváč takes over Czech military, pledges stronger army and closer NATO readiness
Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč has officially become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces. Defence reporter Kateřina Gruntová of Seznam Zprávy says his appointment promises continuity in military priorities while opening a new chapter in relations between the army and the country's political leadership.
Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč officially became Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces on July 1 after symbolically taking over command from General Karel Řehka during Armed Forces Day celebrations at Prague's National Memorial on Vítkov. Earlier in the day, President Petr Pavel formally appointed him to the country's highest military post.
As Chief of the General Staff, Hlaváč becomes the senior military commander responsible for the command, readiness and long-term development of the Czech Armed Forces. His appointment comes at a time when the military is implementing major modernisation projects while also working to meet NATO capability targets amid a deteriorating European security environment. According to Seznam Zprávy defence reporter Kateřina Gruntová, Hlaváč's extensive military experience makes him a natural choice for the position:
"He has served in the military since the 1980s. He began his career in the artillery branch and later took part also in several deployments to Kosovo or Afghanistan. For the past eight years, he held a position in the highest military command. So it means he knows the army very well."
NATO commitments remain the priority
Kateřina Gruntová says Hlaváč's priorities are largely a continuation of the course already set by the Czech military leadership: "His main priorities as the new Chief of the General Staff are predictable: to fulfill NATO commitments by preparing two brigades for the collective defense. And he also intends to focus on air defense."
Hlaváč succeeds General Karel Řehka, who led the armed forces during a period marked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accelerated military modernisation and increased defence spending. During Tuesday's ceremony, Řehka said he believed he was handing over "an army stronger than the one I inherited."
An outspoken predecessor
General Řehka often attracted public attention not only for military issues but also for his willingness to speak openly about defence policy and publicly warn when political decisions threatened military preparedness. His occasionally tense relationship with former Defence Minister Jana Černochová (Civic Democratic Party) became one of the defining features of his tenure.
Gruntová believes that openness became one of Řehka's most important legacies:
"It is the way he stood out in his willingness to communicate openly the defense topics with the public, which is not usual when you're talking about soldiers... If the government assigns him a task but doesn't provide legislation or funding, he just has to say so publicly. So this is the root of these arguments between him and Mrs. Černochová."
Although Hlaváč is expected to adopt a somewhat different public style, Gruntová does not expect any significant change in the military's strategic direction.
Appointment followed political disagreement
Hlaváč's appointment was not entirely without political controversy. While Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, President Petr Pavel and the government ultimately backed his nomination, Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (Freedom and Direct Democracy Party) did not vote for him when the cabinet approved the appointment in May, saying he could imagine a stronger candidate. According to Gruntová, however, the disagreement was unlikely to have been about Hlaváč's professional qualifications.
"Zůna said he could imagine a stronger candidate for this role. But in my view, the real reason behind this is that Zůna and Hlaváč had known each other for a very long time and they have some kind of personal issue. Moreover, Zůna himself wanted to become Chief of the General Staff in the past, but was unsuccessful. So I think it's more like a personal issue. But both men stated they intend to be professional and work together. So we will see."
Whether that relationship develops smoothly could become important as the Czech military enters a demanding period. Alongside the delivery of major new weapons systems, the armed forces must continue expanding personnel, strengthening air defence and meeting ambitious NATO capability goals. Those tasks will require close cooperation between the military leadership and the government regardless of any personal differences.
For now, Hlaváč has made clear that his focus is on continuity. As he takes command of the Czech Armed Forces, he inherits an army undergoing its biggest transformation in decades—and one expected to play an increasingly important role within the NATO alliance.
