Our common purpose is, over time, to do for Eastern Europe what NATO has already helped to do for Western Europe. We will continue to steadily and systematically erase the line drawn in Europe by Stalin's bloody boot," stated US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 25 years ago when she welcomed the first new NATO members since the end of the cold war
Unfortunately, a new line is being drawn in Europe today: a dictator with a different name who, nevertheless, is not ashamed to commit the same heinous crimes as the previous one.
On March 12, twenty-five years ago, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary became the first countries of the former Eastern Bloc to join NATO. This event changed the course of history both for the Czech Republic and for NATO.
The successful integration of the three countries into NATO policies and structures helped open the door to other countries in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Already in 2002, a NATO summit was held in Prague at which a new expansion was decided.
This expansion of NATO towards Central and Eastern Europe was of greater importance and urgency than its architects could have imagined. What would Europe look like today if Western leaders had taken ten years to think about it? If the Czech Republic, led by Václav Havel, had not made use of its newly acquired freedom, its political capital and its determination to join the West? Perhaps NATO would never have found the courage to commit to the defense of Europe. Perhaps today we would fear that Western fatigue with Central Europe would prevail and that, in the interest of peace, the West would accept Russian influence or its control of Riga, Warsaw and even Prague?
We demonstrated our strong commitment to shared security through our daily diplomatic efforts, our active participation in both current and historic allied operations, such as those in the Western Balkans and the Middle East, and our unwavering support for the defense of ' Ukraine, with initiatives such as the recent ammunition program.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and subsequent escalation in 2022 served as a reminder of NATO's essential role in collective defense. We are now preparing for a new chapter in the history of the NATO Alliance.
Ukraine, which has bravely faced the Russian army, is in a puzzling situation. Despite not being part of NATO or the EU, Ukraine has sacrificed far more for Western values than any other country since World War II. We don't have to give up on our partner. We must offer him credible security guarantees.
In today's world, as authoritarian regimes pose threats to our security and way of life, we witness the consequences of a lack of rules. While doubts arise about the alliance's cohesion and future in Europe and the US, it is clear that a stronger NATO is essential now more than ever. You need to act.
Waiting until a problem seems easier often leads to an impasse. Since 1999, the Czech Republic has stood by its allies and together we will move forward, paving the way.
