Czech Army withdraws patronage from Future Air Force conference

The Czech Army has withdrawn the patronage of the Air Force Commander from the upcoming Future Air Force conference scheduled to take place in Prague. General Miroslav Hlaváč, the Chief of the General Staff, announced the decision on social media, stating that the military will not lend its name or prestige to events associated with individuals who question the nation’s euro-atlantic commitments.

The decision follows reports regarding the activities and contacts of conference organizers, specifically businessman Petr Markvart and his company, Defcon. Concerns were raised regarding Markvart’s previous participation in panels alongside sanctioned Russian figures and his associations with groups perceived to be at odds with Czech security interests and government policy.

General Hlaváč emphasized that protecting the state's security and the military's credibility takes absolute precedence over the event. He noted that the organizers must choose between partnering with these specific individuals or maintaining the military's patronage, as the two are incompatible.