On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland’s accession to NATO, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa, in cooperation with the Embassies of Poland and Hungary, the Canadian think-tank Macdonald Laurier Institute, and parliamentarians across the political spectrum, held a ceremonial reception with a panel discussion on March 18, 2024. The event, held at the Valour Building Canadian Parliament, was attended by parliamentarians, representatives from the Canadian Department of National Defence, Global Affairs Canada, ambassadors of Ukraine, NATO and EU member states, representatives of the Czech and allied armed forces, as well as representatives of diaspora organizations.

In her opening remarks, the senior director from Global Affairs Canada

recalled Canada’s longstanding support for the entry of three eastern flank allies into NATO, accompanied by a personal reminiscence of the enlargement process in which she was involved during her diplomatic tenure at NATO in Brussels.

The Ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, representing the countries that, in March 1999, became the first states from the former Eastern Bloc to join NATO, initiated the event with a series of speeches. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Martin Tlapa, recalled the evolution of security discussions in an independent Czech Republic, evolving from idealistic notions of security to a clear determination to join NATO at the end of the 1990s, which became one of the most significant events in modern Czech history. The opportunity for the sharing of experiences, joint training, adoption of the latest technology and procedures, and integration into the alliance’s structures – all of these have contributed to the fact that NATO membership has enabled the Czech Republic to defend its security as well as the values of democracy and freedom. He highlighted the country’s long-term cooperation with Canada, most recently through Canadian involvement in the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine, and by enhancing the alliances defense capabilities through the supply of weapons from Colt Canada, owned by a Czech arms company, to NATO members and Ukraine. The ambassadors also recalled the circumstances and significance of NATO’s historic enlargement in 1999, summarized the involvement and contribution of the three countries to the alliance’s security over the past quarter-century, and addressed the challenges NATO faces today, particularly Russian aggression against Ukraine.

In the subsequent panel discussion moderated by a representative of a leading Canadian foreign policy and security think tank, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, panelists shared their perspectives on a range of defense, and security issues. Key topics included: the fact that the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary are meeting and exceeding the agreed-upon 2% of GDP allocated to defense, with Poland reaching 3.9%; the importance of energy security as a pillar of security policy; the shared and growing security challenges associated with cybersecurity and disinformation; and the opportunities for cooperation and the improvement of defense capabilities.

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