Czech General Major Jaroslav Míka Calls for Faster Defense Build‑Up and NATO Commitment

General Major Jaroslav Míka, who has led the Operations Command of the Czech Armed Forces since August, told Czech Television that NATO does not dictate the Czech army’s actions. He urged a rapid build‑up of defence capabilities to meet the commitments made to the alliance, emphasizing the need to modernise the force, including the transition to F‑35 fighter jets. Míka stressed that all foreign missions and operations are subject to parliamentary approval and that the primary priority is the defence of the Czech Republic. He warned that the security environment in Europe has changed since the end of the Cold War, requiring a credible deterrent that would make any potential aggressor’s cost prohibitive. The general also highlighted that defence is a collective responsibility of the whole state security structure, not just the military.