LUDOVIKA UNIVERSITY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics

John Lukacs Analyses in Strategic and Defense Studies

‘Analyses in Strategic and Defense Studies’ are periodical defense policy papers reflecting the independent opinion of the authors only.

The Research Program for Strategy and Defense within the John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics of the Eötvös József Research Center at Ludovika University of Public Service carries out research in strategic studies and defense policy. The views and opinion expressed in its publications do not necessarily reflect those of the institution or the editors but of the authors only. The data and analysis included in these publications serve information purposes.

 

Publisher:

John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics

Eötvös József Research Centre

Ludovika University of Public Service

 

Editor:Tamás Csiki Varga

 

Publisher's contact information:

Contact:

1581 Budapest, P.O. Box. 15.

Phone: 00 36 1 432-90-92

E-mail: jli@uni-nke.hu

 

 

We are pleased to present the 17th issue of John Lukacs Analyses in Strategic and Defense Studies titled ‘The Changing European Security Architecture – The Czech View’

 

  • The Russian invasion of Ukraine has compelled Europe, including the Czech Republic, to reorient its security and defence posture towards the demands of high-intensity conflict. Since 2022, Prague has adopted new strategic documents, increased defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP, launched substantial procurement programmes, and assumed a leadership role in allied support for Ukraine, most notably through the international ammunition initiative.
  • Nonetheless, Czech defence policy continues to grapple with significant challenges: political polarisation over military investments, limited public support for higher defence expenditure, persistent recruitment difficulties, and enduring infrastructure and interoperability shortfalls. NATO’s recent commitment to raise spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 amplifies these pressures, requiring structural reform and more extensive societal engagement.
  • The Czech case highlights both the potential and the vulnerability of small states within European security: capable of exercising leadership through targeted initiatives, yet constrained by domestic political, social, and fiscal factors that threaten to erode long-term strategic ambition.

Full paper: 2025/17.

Author: Zdenek Rod