Morning opening: Dobré ráno from Prague
Dobré ráno, or good morning from Prague.
Over 2,000 state officials, foreign policy, and security experts from across Europe and beyond have convened in the Czech capital for the GLOBSEC Forum 2026. The agenda covers a wide range of pressing issues.
Topics include the recent drone incidents in the Baltics, the broader security landscape in Ukraine and Europe—particularly Central and Eastern Europe—as well as global challenges related to energy, geopolitics, artificial intelligence, and the status of the transatlantic alliance. The forum features prominent speakers such as Czech President Petr Pavel, European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkunen, and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. This takes place alongside NATO foreign ministers' ministerial meetings in Sweden scheduled for today and tomorrow.
Last night, President Pavel issued a warning that Russia will continue to be Europe’s primary security threat for decades to come. He emphasized that Europe is awakening from an overreliance on U.S. protection and must significantly enhance its own defense capabilities as a new global order of competing superpowers emerges.
I will provide key excerpts from his address here.
Additionally, I will update you on the latest developments regarding Ukraine, the drone incidents in the Baltics, and other pertinent news from across the continent.
It is Thursday, 21 May 2026. I am Jakub Krupa, and this is Europe Live.
'If Ukraine is forced into bad peace, we will all live with consequences for decades,' Pavel warns
President Pavel addressed the situation in Ukraine, underscoring that
“supporting Ukraine is not a charity,” but “a direct investment in Europe’s own security.”
He cautioned,
“If Ukraine is forced into a bad peace, we all will live with the consequences for decades.”
EU and NATO should align priorities to help Europe step up its defence, Pavel says
Pavel highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between the European Union and NATO. He noted that Brussels possesses tools that NATO does not, such as funding mechanisms, infrastructure development capabilities, and industrial policies that can be leveraged to support defense preparations.
He stated,
“I am convinced that these two sets of instruments should be connected. NATO and European Union are not competitors in European security. They should function as complementary pillars.”
He provided a concrete example of NATO collaborating with the EU to modernize critical infrastructure including routes, ports, bridges, and airfields essential for the movement of forces across Europe.
He explained,
“The task is to make sure that the two plans overlap; that NATO’s military requirements guide EU investments, and the EU investments strengthen NATO deterrence.”
Furthermore, Pavel emphasized that such plans should incorporate Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom as
“indispensable European security actors.”
'No time to lose' as capabilities, not spending, are key for Europe's ability to defend itself, Pavel says
President Pavel acknowledged that Europe
“has already made significant progress in defence spending,”
but warned that
“credible defence is not built on spending levels alone.”
He stressed the need to focus on strengthening strategic enablers and closing critical capability gaps in areas such as strategic airlift, air and missile defence, intelligence, logistics, and military mobility.
He urged,
“There is no time to lose.”
'Many assumptions for old security architecture are no longer valid,' Czech president warns
President Pavel began by reiterating his previous warnings that Europe must enhance its political will, industrial capacity, and technological capabilities, stating these remain fully valid and have become even more urgent.
He emphasized that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense, not because of external pressure from Washington, but because it aligns with Europe’s strategic and vital interests.
He noted the ongoing debates about the future scale of the United States’ conventional military presence in Europe and said Europe must prepare for this evolving reality.
He clarified,
“This doesn’t mean that Europe should turn away from the United States – just the opposite. NATO remains the foundation of our collective defence, and the transatlantic bond remains essential for our own security – but we must be honest [that] many assumptions supporting the old security architecture are no longer valid.”
The GLOBSEC Forum in Prague is now underway, with Czech President Pavel delivering his opening address.
I will continue to provide the key points from his speech as they become available.
