THE DEFENCE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AT THE CROSSROAD:

By becoming a member of the NATO, the Czech Republic subscribed to the responsibility for the protection of values of the Western civilization. At the same time, it made other NATO members responsible for its own protection in exchange for the promise to contribute to their protection, as well. But the military and economic power of the West, including the Czech Republic, seems to fade away, raising the need to find new solutions how meet future challenges in securing the defence of the Czech Republic. One possible way, which this article proposes and further describes, is the creation of a strong regional platform of collaboration in defence among countries of the Eastern and Central Europe, a platform that would support a joint build-up of defence capabilities among countries in the region, enhance their interoperability and, in doing so, help to meet their commitments to allies and partners in the NATO and the EU more effectively.