A three-day international conference, Defence and Strategy, opened yesterday at the DAP Hotel in Prague. The event is organized by the Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies of the University of Defence. This year’s 11th edition is dedicated to the theme “Adapting to a Changing World” and focuses on transformations in the current security environment, the impact of new technologies, autonomous systems, social resilience, strategic communication, and other key areas of defence and security.
The conference was officially opened by the Director of the Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, Associate Professor Josef Procházka. This was followed by a keynote address by Major General Petr Milčický, which set the framework for discussion on the adaptation of armed forces and defence policy in a dynamically changing security environment.
The first panel of the opening day focused on NATO adaptation and issues of stability. The subsequent discussion highlighted the importance of Alliance cohesion and the ability to respond to new types of threats. The second panel addressed hybrid threats, disinformation, and social resilience, presenting both historical parallels and current approaches to strengthening societal resilience.
Today’s conference programme focuses on structural and conceptual changes in the field of defence and warfare. The morning panels addressed the transformation of armed forces, defence policy, and the changing character of conflicts. Discussions covered topics such as multi-domain operations, NATO decision-making processes, and the development of national defence industries.
The afternoon panel focuses on NATO’s role in the changing security environment, including the European pillar of the Alliance, public opinion on security, and current geopolitical crises.
Today’s programme also includes a guided visit to the Army Museum Žižkov and the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror, linking the current themes of the conference with historical experience.
Overall, the conference offers a comprehensive view of current and future security challenges while connecting academic reflection with the practical experience of experts from the field.
Author: CSMSS editorial team, photo: Miroslava Pačková
