A recent conference entitled “A Secure Future,” organized by the Office of the Government, delivered an urgent message: without social determination and the ability to defend our values, even the most advanced weapon systems will fail. The conference, held under the auspices of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, brought together experts from the fields of politics, defense, and the media to seek answers to the question of whether the Czech Republic is prepared for a world that is no longer safe. The conference subsequently revealed not only the challenges we face from outside, but above all those coming from within – from social fatigue, a lack of trust in institutions, and a decline in the willingness to defend democratic values.

In his opening speech, Prime Minister Fiala emphasized that security is not just one of many options, but a necessary prerequisite for any further development of the state. He recalled that Europe can no longer count on geopolitical stability and must make a clear decision whether it will stand firmly on the side of the democratic West or remain open to the influence of authoritarian regimes. “We must choose whether we want to be part of the West or stand on the sidelines and be open to the influence of the Russian world,” Fiala said.

He also emphasized the need to maintain a strategic partnership with the United States, despite current disagreements. In his speech, he also recalled specific steps taken by the current government regarding the security and defense capabilities of the Czech Republic—increasing the defense budget, modernizing the army, ensuring cyber security, and continuing aid to Ukraine, which Fiala described as a fundamental pillar of Czech foreign policy.

Support for Ukraine emerged as a unifying theme throughout the meeting. All speakers agreed that a free and strong Ukraine is the best shield for the Czech Republic. However, military technology alone is not enough to win. Vlastislav Bříza Jr., an expert on international relations and security policy, emphasized in his speech that the decisive factor is society's willingness to resist. “War, like its prevention, is determined by two factors: technical superiority and moral readiness. And that is what we lack at the moment,” said Bříza, pointing to a recent survey according to which the majority of Czech citizens would not defend their country even if it were attacked. "This is a figure that should alarm us. It shows that we have lost our natural instinct to protect what is ours," warned Bříza. According to him, it is necessary to start from the basics – from family, school, and history lessons. Not for the sake of militarizing society, but to restore confidence in the meaning of defense and civic responsibility.

Commentator Aleksandr Mitrofanov also sharply intervened in the ensuing debate, warning of the risk of democratic decay. According to him, Russia does not need to send tanks to Europe to weaken it – it is enough for Europeans to lose confidence in their own states and democratic institutions. "It is enough for voters to stop listening to their own representatives. That is the goal of Russia's strategy – to undermine from within, using democratic tools,“ Mitrofanov said.

Former Finance Minister of the Czech Republic Miroslav Kalousek, speaking on behalf of STV GROUP, pointed out that without public trust, the defense industry will never be a fully fledged part of our security architecture. ”We don't want money as a reward. We want the government to explain to people what is happening and why. Without that, any strategy will be unstable," Kalousek said.

National Security Advisor Tomáš Pojar then criticized European leaders, who, in his view, rely too much on diplomatic circles instead of making decisions. “If anyone thinks that relevance can be gained by calling another dinner, I don't know,” Pojar said ironically, stressing that the Czech Republic must not only be heard in the European debate, but above all must take active action.

The conference thus sent a clear message: security is not something that can be solved for us by the army or our allies. It is a value that is built into people's everyday thinking – into whether they consider defending their country a natural part of their identity. Without the willingness to defend one's own values, even the best strategy will fail.