Military Chief Stresses Need for Strengthening Armed Forces Amid Security Concerns
The Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Republic, Karel Řehka, has warned that Russia should not be expected to adopt a more cooperative stance even after the war in Ukraine ends.
"Russia will remain a constant presence. It will not become safer for us, friendlier, or more predictable," Řehka stated in a recent interview with Czech television.
His comments come as the war nears its third anniversary, with discussions surrounding potential peace negotiations gaining traction. However, Řehka emphasized the challenges in securing a lasting resolution that prevents future conflicts from emerging.
He also highlighted the pressing need to strengthen the Czech military, despite ongoing demographic and recruitment challenges. The goal is to increase both active and reserve personnel to 37,500 members, though Řehka acknowledged that this figure may be difficult to achieve given current population trends and past enlistment efforts.
Under current military expansion plans, the Czech army aims to reach 30,000 professional soldiers and 10,000 active reservists by 2030. Presently, the armed forces consist of approximately 23,600 soldiers, with around 1,000 recruits joining over the past five years. Photo by Markus Rauchenberger, Wikimedia commons.