Czech President appoints Miroslav Hlaváč as new chief of the General Staff

President Petr Pavel appointed Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč as the new Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, effective 1 July, succeeding Karel Řehka, who will leave the post by the end of August. The ceremony took place at the National Memorial on Vítkov Hill in Prague, where Hlaváč received the staff flag from his predecessor.

Hlaváč, a 61‑year‑old officer who has served since the 1980s and was first deputy since August 2023, faces a demanding period of modernization, limited defence budgets, and heightened security concerns stemming from the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and a partial U.S. drawdown from Europe. President Pavel highlighted the need for objective military advice and warned of “increased requirements for building our capabilities in a relatively short time.” Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna was the only cabinet member who voted against the appointment. Hlaváč has outlined priorities such as completing a heavy brigade, expanding air‑defence systems and strengthening overall force readiness.